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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT   LOS  ANGELES 


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THE 


STORY  OF  A  REGIMENT 


IIEING     A     NARRATIVE     OF    THK 


Service  of  the  Second  Regiment, 


MINNESOTA   VETERAN  VOLUNTEER 
INFANTRY, 


IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR  OF  1861-1865, 


JUDSON     W.     BISHOP, 

(LATE   COLONEL   AND   BVT.    BRIG.  GENL.   U.  S.  V.) 


WRITTEN    AND    PUBLISHED    FOR.    AND    BY    REQUEST   OF   THE 
SURVIVING  MEMBERS   OF   THE  REGIMENT. 


ST.    PAUL,    MINN. 
1890. 


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Entered    according   to   act   of  Congress,  in  the  year  1890,  by  J.  W . 
Bishop,  in  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


INTRODUCTION 


In  response  to  the  often  repeated  request  of  my 

comrades,  now  surviving,  of  the  Second  Minnesota 

Regiment,  I  recently  promised  to  write  a  connected 

narrative  of  the  service  of  the  regiment  from  1861 

N    to  1865. 

Having  been  the  first  man  to  be  mustered  into 

that  regiment  and  the    last  man    to    be    mustered 

x  "*  out  of  it,   and  having    served    continuously    in    it 

from    first  to  last,  and  having  for  more  than  half 

the    term    of  service,   had  the  responsibility  of  its 

administration,   discipline  and  command,  it  should 

not  be  a  difficult  task  for  me  to  make  a  continuous 

\s  record   of  all   important  events  in  its  history.     As 

V  moreover  its  services  were  always  and  everywhere 

\  honorable,  efficient  and  satisfactory,  it  should  be, 

x    and  is,  a  labor  of  love  to  review  and  record  them. 

But  amid  the  absorbing  and  varied  cares    of  a 

busy  life  I  have  found  it  impossible  to  give  to  the 

work  the  continuous  attention  that  is  necessary  to 

perform    such    work    well,    and    I    should    not    be 

satisfied  with    it   now,  if  I  could    suppose    that    I 

should  ever  have  the  leisure  time  in  which  to  im- 

prove upon  it. 

It  is  intended  to  be  and  I  believe  is,   a  faithful 
and  truthful  record  of  facts  and  events,  and  as  such 

211345 


2  INTRODUCTION. 

will  be  tested  without  discredit  by  the  official 
reports  and  the  diaries  and  letters  of  the  time 
With  less  care  in  this  respect,  and  with  more  free- 
dom of  invention  and  imagination,  a  more 
interesting  and  readable  war  story  could  doubtless 
have  been  made  of  it. 

In  writing  the  story  of  the  regiment  the  frequent 
mention  of  names  has  been  avoided.  A  great 
many  of  the  seventeen  hundred  and  eighty  men 
who  were  members  of  it  have  well  deserved  personal 
mention  for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct,  else 
the  regiment  as  such  could  not  have  acquired  its 
conceded  high  reputation,  but  it  is  obviously 
impossible  to  mention  all,  or  some  without  omitting 
others  equally  worthy,  and  my  comrades  generally 
will,  I  trust,  be  content  to  claim  the  history  of 
the  regiment,  which  they  helped  to  make,  as  their 
own,  and  be  proud  of  it  as  they  have  a  right  to  be. 

A  part  of  the  record  history  of  the  regiment 
consists  of  such  correspondence,  official  reports, 
orders  and  recommendations  as  would  encumber 
the  progress  of  the  narrative  if  placed  therein; 
these  are  given  in  the  appendix,  usually  in  full,  and 
from  official  sources.  Some  of  them  are  now  for 
the  first  time  in  print  and  all  of  them  will  be  of 
interest  to  members  of  the  regiment. 

I  had  proposed  to  append  also  a  complete 
roster  giving  the  official  militar}'  record  of  each 
and  all  the  members  of  the  regiment,  but  I  find 
upon  examination,  that  the  only  record  thus  far 
compiled  is  imperfect,  erroneous  and  unsatisfactory. 
The  compilation  of  a  new  and  complete  one  from 
original  rolls  and  records  is  impracticable  within 


INTRODUCTION.  3 

the  time  at  my  command,  and  I  am  thus  compelled 
to  close  the  book  without  it. 

This  is  less  to  be  regretted,  however,  in  view  of 
the  fact  that  the  State  has  by  law  provided  for 
the  preparation  of  an  official  roster  of  all  the 
Minnesota  soldiers,  of  which  every  such  soldier 
now  surviving  (or  his  representative  if  dead)  is  to 
receive  a  copy  free  of  expense. 

I  am  under  obligations  to  comrades  D.  C. 
Wilson,  Wm.  Bircher  and  M.  D.  E.  Runals  for  the 
use  of  their  daily  journals  (1861  to  1865)  which 
have  been  valuable  references  in  locating  events 
and  dates. 

The  work,  such  as  it  is,  Comrades,  is  now  sub- 
mitted in  the  hope  that  it  will  meet  your  kind 
approval  and  that  it  may  revive,  as  you  read  it,  your 
interest  and  pride  in  the  memory  of  our  regiment 
and  of  your  service  in  and  with  it,  as  it  has  in- 
deed revived  mine  to  prepare  the  record  for  you. 

J.   W.   BISHOP. 
ST.  PAUL,  June,  1890. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGB. 

CHAPTER  I.— GETTING  INTO  THE  SERVICE 17 

The  war  opens  at  Sumpter — The  President's  call 
for  troops — Gov.  Ramse3'  tenders  a  regiment — The 
executive  proclamation— The  Adjutant  General's 
order — The  militia  companies — Company  "A  "holds 
a  meeting — And  volunteers — And  is  formally  tend- 
ered— And  accepted  for  the  1st  regiment — Is  after- 
wards left  out  as  supernumerary — And  awaits  a  call 
for  a  second  regiment — Marching  orders  received — 
The  company  re-enlists  for  three  years — Reports  at 
Fort  Snelling — Is  mustered  into  the  service — Marches 
to  Fort  Ripley — Other  companies  report  and  are 
mustered  in — Field  and  staff  officers  are  appointed — 
Regiment  assembled  at  Fort  Snelling — Preparations 
for  going  South — Mrs.  and  Miss  Van  Cleve. 

CHAPTER  II.— GOING  TO  THE  WAR 26 

We  leave  Fort  Snelling— The  march  through 
St.  Paul — Voyage  down  the  river — La  Cross? — 
Chicago  and  the  "Wigwam"— Our  Pittsburg  Re- 
ception— Orders  changed — A  voyage  down  the  Ohio 
river — Louisville,  Kentucky — A  call  on  Gen.  Sher- 
man— A  night  ride  to  Lebanon  Junction — Assigned 
to  Gen.  Geo.  H.  Thomas'  division — Relieved  by  3rd 
Minnesota  regiment-Ordered  to  Lebanon-Brigaded 
with  other  regiments — The  mules  and  the  wagoners. 

CHAPTER  III.— THE  MILL  SPRINGS  CAMPAIGN 33 

Our  march  out  on  New  Year's  day  —  Leaving 
the  "pike" — Rain,  mud  and  discomfort — Only  the 


6  INDEX. 

PAGE. 

top  rail— Apple  jack— Logan's  cross  roads— Topo- 
graphy—Assembling  the  troops— Out  on  picket— 
The  night  before  the  battle— The  attack  upon  the 
pickets— Long  roll  in  the  camps— The  battle  opens— 
The  2nd  Minnesota  goes  in— The  fighting  "through 
the  same  fence  "—Killing  of  Bailie  Peyton— A  bay- 
onet charge— Hon.  Charles  Scheffer— Death  of  Gen. 
Zollicoffer — The  enemj-  routed — Our  pursuit — Biv- 
ouac on  Moulden's  Hill — We  occupy  the  enemy's 
camp  next  morning — Captured  artillery,  animals 
and  stores — Battle  flag  captured  by  2nd  Minne- 
sota— Killed  and  wounded. 

CHAPTER  IV.— MILL  SPRINGS  TO  SHILOH..... 49 

Return  march  to  Louisville — Dr.  Jackson's  farm — 
A  flag  presented  by  the  loyal  ladies  of  Louisville — 
Voyage  down  the  Ohio  river  to  Smithfield — And  up 
the  Cumberland  to  Nashville — March  from  Nash- 
ville— Detention  at  Duck  river — Rain,  mud  and  night 
marching — Arrival  at  Savannah — By  river  to 
Shiloh— The  battle  field— Burial  of  the  dead— Col. 
VanCleve  promoted — Band  mustered  out — Halleck's 
arrival — Seige  of  Corinth — Evacuation,  and  pursuit 
of  the  enemy — Disappointment  and  disgust. 

CHAPTER  V.— CORINTH  TO  LOUISVILLE 57 

Our  march  eastward  —  Camp  at  Tuscumbia — 
Fourth  of  July — Gov.  Ramsey's  visit — The  "bugle 
band"  organized— Florence— Sensational  proceedings 
in  church—"  Kingdom  Comin"  -The  plundering  of 
Athens,  Tennessee — The  murder  of  Gen.  Robert  L. 
McCook — Company  "  C  "  3rd  Minnesota  regiment — 
News  of  the  Indian  massacre  in  Minnesota — Lieut. 
Col.  Wilkin  appointed  Colonel  of  9th  Minnesota 
regiment  —  March  to  Nashville  —  Bragg's  army 
crosses  the  Cumberland — The  race  for  Louisville — 
Seventy  miles  in  three  days— "Sink  holes"  and 
•'dough  gods"— The  battle  of  the  apples— Cave 


INDEX.  7 

PAGE. 

City — A  hard  march  via  Elizabethtown  to  the  Ohio 
river  at  the  mouth  of  Salt  river — Steamers  to  Louis- 
ville— Orders  relieving  Buell  issued  and  suspended. 

CHAPTER  VI.— THE  PERRYVILLE  CAMPAIGN 69 

Killing  of  Gen.  William  Nelson — Reorganization  of 
of  the  army — Capt.  Gilbert  and  Capt.  Gay  assigned 
to  command  over  their  seniors — We  march  out  to 
find  the  enemy — A  seventeen  mile  skirmish — The 
battle  of  Perry  ville — Our  brigade  ordered  in  at  twi- 
light— A  startling  experience — Comments  on  the 
battle — The  pursuit  to  Crab  Crchard — A  cocky  In- 
spector General  —  An  arrest  ordered  and  trouble 
promised — Crab  Orchard  via  Lebanon,  Cave  City 
and  Bowling  Green  to  Mitchelville — Repairing  the 
tunnel — Camp  at  Cunningham's  Ford — Capture  of 
new  regiments — Gallatin,  Tennessee — Proclamation 
of  Emancipation — A  lard  mine — Ordered  to  rejoin 
the  division. 

CHAPTER  VII.— TRIUNE  AND  TULLAHOMA 80 

A  vain  chase  after  Wheeler's  cavalry — Camp  at 
the  Battle  farm — The  Battle  family — An  inspection 
of  the  regiment — Col.  George  goes  to  Minnesota — 
A  brilliant  fight  by  our  foraging  party — Congratu- 
latory orders — Good-by  to  the  Battle  family — An 
expedition  to  Harpeth  river — A  quick  march  to 
Chapel  Hill — A  fight  and  capture  of  prisoners — 
Encampment  at  Triune — Building  fortifications — 
Our  detail  samples  Gen.  Steedman's  whiskey — We 
get  Enfield  rifles— Gen.  Schofield  succeeds  Steedman, 
and  Gen.  Brannan  succeeds  Schofield  in  the  com- 
mand of  the  division — Brigade  exercises — "  Pup 
tents"  issued — A  grand  review — A  night  march  to 
Franklin  —  An  inhospitable  reception  —  Tullahoma 
campaign  begins — A  rainy  day  skirmish  —  An  as- 
tonished surgeon  —  Hoover's  Gap  —  Tullahoma 
captured — Fording  Elk  river. 


8  INDEX. 

PAGE. 

CHAPTER   VIII.— THE    CAMPAIGN    AND    BATTLE    OF 

CHICAMAUGA 91 

Up  the  Cumberland  mountains — An  adjourned 
university— Battle  Creek — Picketing  the  Tennessee 
river — Building  rafts  and  scows  —  Crossing  the 
river — Nic-a-Jack  Cave  —  Crossing  Racoon  moun- 
tain— Lookout  Valley — Lookout  Mountain — Lee's 
Mill — A  scrimmage  at  Pond  Springs — The  night 
march  before  the  battle — That  breakfast  we  never 
ate — The  opening  of  Chicamauga — Our  first  day's 
battle — The  stampeded  brigade — Charge  of  the  9th 
Ohio — Desperate  fighting  of  our  brigade — Final 
repulse  of  the  enemy — Next  day  in  reserve — The 
skulkers — The  wounded  general  officer — Ordered  to 
the  left  flank — Fight  with  Breck  en  ridge's  division — 
Change  of  front  under  fire — Dispersion  of  the  enenn' — 
Snodgrass  Hill — Gen.  Thomas — A  memorable  after- 
noon— Our  successful  defense  of  the  ridge — With- 
drawal to  Rossville  at  night — Every  man  accounted 
for — Our  brigade  commander's  report — Heavy  loss 
of  our  brigade. 

CHAPTER  IX.— CHATTANOOGA  AND  MISSION  RIDGE 113 

Establishing  the  parallel  camps  in  line  of  battle — 
Scanty  supply  of  food,  forage  and  clothing — Our 
diversions  "such  as  they  were" — Skirmishing  for 
fuel — The  big  guns  on  Lookout — Reorganization- 
Col.  George  is  again  compelled  to  leave  us — Topo- 
graphy of  Chattanooga — Enemy  signalling  over  our 
heads — Opening  of  the  "Cracker  line" — Prepara- 
tions for  the  grand  battle — Hooker's  battle  above 
the  clouds— Sherman's  attack  on  Mission  Ridge- 
Grand  and  successful  assault  on  Mission  Ridge  by 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland — Official  report  of  our 
regimental  commander — Movements  of  our  brigade 
and  of  our  regiment  deployed  in  the  front — Capture 
of  the  first  line  of  breastworks — Our  brigade  com- 
mander commends  the  2nd  Minnesota — Comments 
on  the  battle. 


INDEX.  9 

PACK. 

CHAPTER  X.— VETERANIZING 128 

Return  to  Chattanooga— Burying  the  Chica- 
mauga  dead — Invited  to  reinlist — Discussion  in  the 
camps — Eighty  per  cent  decide  favorabty,  and  are 
re-enlisted  as  veterans — The  non-veterans  are  de- 
tached— The  regiment  starts  for  Minnesota — Steam- 
ers to  Bridgeport— Box  cars  to  Nashville— And  thence 
to  Louisville — The  freedom  of  the  city  claimed  and 
granted  for  the  veterans — Our  old  muskets  turned 
in — A  memorable  ride  to  Chicago — That  breakfast 
at  Crawfordsville — The  sleigh  ride  from  La  Crosse 
to  St.  Paul — Hospitalit}-  of  Winona  people — Warm 
reception  of  the  veterans  at  St.  Paul — The  veteran 
furlough — Public  reception  at  Chatfield — Address  by 
the  regimental  commander — Reassembling  at  Fort 
Snelling — Our  entertainment  by  the  ladies  of  St. 
Anthony — Return  by  stages  to  La  Crosse — Col. 
George  rejoins  here  and  assumes  command — By  rail 
to  Nashville— March  thence  to  Bridgeport — Rejoin 
division  at  Ringgold,  Georgia. 

CHAPTER  XL— THE  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN 142 

Stripping  for  work — Reconnoisance — The  cam- 
paign begins — Tunnel  Hill — Snake  Creek  Gap — 
Dalton,  then  Resaca,  evacuated — Calhoun — Cass- 
ville — The  9th  Ohio  goes  home — The  famous  "hun- 
dred days" — Intrenchinga  line  under  fire — A  battery 
comes  into  action— Lieut.  Jones  killed — Gen.  How- 
ard's account  of  it — Kenesaw  mountain — An  unrest- 
ful  camp — A  moonlight  march— A  sad  event — Col. 
George  and  our  non-veterans  mustered  out — Unsuc- 
cessful assault  of  Davis'  division — Kenesaw  evacu- 
ated— Recruits  arrive — Garrison  duty  at  Marietta — 
Again  to  the  front — More  recruits — Back  to  Mari- 
etta— Post  and  Garrison  duty — Again  to  the  front — 
Battle  of  Jonesboro — Atlanta  evacuated — Force  and 
casualties  report  —  An  unpleasant  history — Gen. 
Thomas  requests  the  Governor  to  fill  up  the  regi- 
ment— Lieut.  Col.  Bishop  sent  to  Minnesota  for  the 


10  INDEX. 

PAGE. 

recruits — And  returns — Hood's  army  in  our  rear  and 
our  pursuit — Silver  horns  for  the  band — Return  to 
Atlanta. 

CHAPTER  XII.— THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA ..156 

The  burning  of  Atlanta — Our  march  out  east- 
ward— Unbuilding  the  railroad — An  unfortunate 
train — A  resurrection— Howell  Cobb's  farm — Mill- 
edgeville — A  provisional  legislature — Repeal  of  the 
Ordinance  of  Secession — The  foragers  and  their 
methods  —  No  straggling  allowed  —  A  Methodist 
minister  among  the  conscripts — "See  that  you  fall 
not  out  by  the  way" — After  the  enemy's  cavalry — 
Rice  with  the  bark  on — A  foraging  expedition — Fort 
McAllister  falls — Supplies  from  the  fleet — Savannah 
evacuated — 40  days'  mail — Irish  potatoes — Christ- 
mas and  fresh  o^^sters — Chaplain  Gleason — Grand 
review  in  Savannah — Our  regiment  ordered  into  the 
city — In  charge  of  Central  railroad  grounds  and 
property — Maj.  Uline  sent  to  Minnesota  for  recruits. 

CHAPTER  XIII.— SAVANNAH  TO  RALEIGH 168 

The  campaign  of  the  Carolinas — We  leave  Savan- 
nah— Sister's  Ferry — Cross  the  river  into  South 
Carolina — Devastation  of  the  country — Barnwell 
Court  House — Destroying  the  railroad — Pontooning 
the  river — The  county  on  fire — Burning  of  Colum- 
bia— Sunday  work — The  Catawba  river — A  precari- 
ous crossing — Hanging  Rock  battle  ground — The 
Great  Pedee  river — Cross  into  North  Carolina — A 
burning  stream — Fayetteville — Destruction  of  the 
arsenal — Battle  of  Bentonville — Arrival  at  Golds- 
boro — An  impromptu  review— 60  days'  mail  at  once — 
A  military  execution — An  inspection — The  band — 
Maj.  Uline  returns  —  Some  promotions  —  News  of 
Lee's  surrender — Advance  to  Raleigh — State  Insane 
Asylum— Johnston's  surrender — Halleck's  discour- 
tesy towards  Sherman. 


INDEX.  11 

PAGE. 

CHAPTER  XIV.— RICHMOND,  WASHINGTON  AND  HoME.,181 

"A  comfortable  and  leisure^'  march" — A  race  of 
the  14th  and  20th  corps — We  cross  into  Virginia — 
Our  arrival  at  Richmond — Forbidden  to  enter  the 
city — Gen.  Halleck  proposes  to  review  the  14th 
corps — Sherman  countermands  it — And  orders  our 
march  to  Washington — We  "route  step"  through 
Richmond  —  The  Chicahomin y  —  Pamunkey  —  Rapi 
dan  and  Rappahannock  rivers — Bristoe  station — 
Manassas  and  Bull  Run  battle  fields — Alexandria — 
The  grand  review  in  Washington — A  magnificent 
military  spectacle — Change  of  encampment — A  visit 
and  review  by  Gen.  Geo.  H.  Thomas — Reorganiza- 
tion of  our  division — Col.  Bishop  assigned  to  com- 
mand the  1  st  brigade — Voyage  down  the  Ohio  river — 
Encampment  at  Louisville — 20  days  of  suspense — 
Muster  for  discharge — Farewell  orders  and  ad- 
dresses by  our  division  and  corps  commanders — By 
rail  to  Chicago  and  La  Crosse — Steamer  to  Fort 
Snelling — A  parade  march  at  Winona — Grand  recep- 
tion at  St.  Paul — Encamp  at  Fort  Snelling — Fare- 
well address  by  the  Colonel — Final  payment  and 
discharge — Dispersion  of  the  men  and  "good-by." 

CHAPTER  XV.— CONCLUDING  REMARKS .' 192 

In  the  beginning,  the  inexperience  of  officers  and 
men — Organization  and  duty  by  companies — The 
regiment  becomes  later  the  unit  —  Brigading  by 
States — The  soldier  learns  how  to  take  care  of  him- 
self—The evolution  of  discipline — To  be  always 
"present  and  ready" — Army  transportation — "Pup 
tents" — Regimental  Bands — Our  "pioneer  corps" — 
Recruiting  the  veteran  regiments  —  Comparative 
inefficiency  of  new  regiments — Average  good  plwsi- 
cal  condition  of  the  old  soldier — They  have  generally 
been  successful  in  civil  life — And  partially  because  of 
their  military  experience  and  training — The  Great 
Beyond. 


APPKNOIX. 


No.  1.     Adjutant  General's  order  (State  of  Minnesota) 

tocaptainsof  militia  companies.    April  17th,  1861. ..203 

No.  2.     Acceptance   (telegram)    of   Company   "A"   by 

Lieut.  Gov.  Ignatius  Donnelly.     April  22nd,  1861. ...203 

No.  3.     Acceptance  (letter)  of  Company  "A"  by  Lieut. 

Gov.  Ignatius  Donnelly.     April  22nd,  1861 203 

No.  4.  Order  by  John  B.  Sanborn,  Adjutant  General,  to 
Company  "A"  to  turn  over  the  arms  and  equip- 
ments for  companies  of  the  1st  regiment.  April 
26th,  1861 204 

No.  5.  Tender  of  "  Chatfield  Guards"  as  unconditional 
volunteers.  May  4th,  1861 204 

No.  6.  Application  of  "Chatfield  Guards"  for  reissue 
of  arms  and  equipments.  June  7th,  1861 204 

No.  7.  Orders  from  Adjutant  General's  office  to  design- 
ate the  post  commander  at  Fort  Snelling.  June 
26th,  1861 ". 205 

No.  8.  Gen.  Geo.  H.  Thomas'  report  transmitting  a 
rebel  flag,  captured  by  2nd  Minnesota  regiment  at 
Mill  Springs.  Dated  February  3rd,  1862 205 

No.  9.  Report  of  battle  of  Mill  Springs,  by  Col.  H.  P. 
Van  Cleve,  commanding  2nd  regiment  Minnesota 
volunteers.  Dated  January  22nd,  1862 206 


INDEX  TO  APPENDIX.  13 

PAGE. 

No.  10.  Official  list  of  killed  and  wounded  of  2nd  Min- 
nesota regiment  at  battle  of  Mill  Springs.  (12 
killed  and  33  wounded.) 207 

No.  11.  Report  of  battle  of  Mill  Springs,  by  Col. 
Robert  L.  McCook,  commanding  3rd  brigade,  1st 
division.  Dated  January  27th,  1862 208 

No.  12.  Report  of  battle  of  Mill  Springs,  by  Gen. 
George  H.  Thomas,  commanding  1st  division. 
Dated  January  31st,  1862 211 

No.  13.  Gen.  W.  S.  Rosecrans'  order  commending  the 
2nd  Minnesota  regiment  (after  inspection  by  Capt. 
James  Curtis  I  as  "worthy  of  imitation  " 215 

No.  14.  Complimentary  order  by  Col.  Van  Derveer, 
commanding  3rd  brigade,  commending  the  gallant 
conduct  of  Sergant  L.  N.  Holmes  and  fourteen  men 
of  Company  "H"  in  repulsing  an  attack  of  rebel 
calvary.  Dated  February,  1863 215 

No.  15.  Report  (referring  to  No.  14)  of  Gen.  J.  B.  Steed- 
man,  commanding  division.  Dated  February  15th, 
1863 216 

No.  16.  Report  of  battle  of  Chicamauga,  by  Col.  James 
George,  commanding  2nd  Minnesota  regiment. 
Dated  September  25th,  1863 216 

No.  17.  Official  list  of  killed,  wounded  and  captured  of 
the  2nd  Minnesota  regiment  at  battles  of  Chica- 
mauga. (Killed  35,  wounded  113,  captured  14; 
total  loss,  162.) 219 

No.  18.  Supplementary  report  of  Col.  James  George, 
commanding  2nd  Minnesota  regiment,  commending 
certain  officers  and  men,  "for  gallant  and  meritori- 
ous conduct."  Dated  September  30th,  1863 223 

No.  19.  Report  of  battles  of  Chicamauga,  by  Col.  F. 
Van  Derveer,  commanding  3rd  brigade.  Dated 
September  25th,  1863 225 


14  INDEX  TO  APPENDIX. 

PAGE. 

No.  20.  Col.  James  George  recommended  for  pro- 
motion  232 

No.  21.  Official  list  of  killed  and  wounded  of  the  2nd 
Minnesota  regiment  in  battles  of  Mission  Ridge. 
(Killed  5,  wounded  34.) 233 

No.  22.  Supplementary  report  of  battle  of  Mission 
Ridge,  by  Lieut.  Col.  J.  W.  Bishop,  commanding 
2nd  Minnesota  regiment.  Dated  December  10th, 
1863 235 

No.  23.  Report  of  battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  by  Col. 
Van  Derveer,  commanding  3rd  brigade 237 

No.  24.  Regimental  promotions  recommended  by  bri- 
gade, division,  corps  and  department  commanders. 
Dated  July  14,  1864 241 

No.  25.  Official  report  of  killed  and  wounded  of  2nd 
Minnesota  regiment  in  Atlanta  campaign.  (Killed 
4,  wounded  30.) 242 

No.  26.  Complimentary  letter  from  Gen.  A.  Baird, 
commanding  division,  to  Hon.  S.  Miller,  Governor 
of  Minnesota,  commending  2nd  Mianesota  regi- 
ment, and  asking  for  recruits  to  fill  up  the  regiment. 243 

No.  27.  Report  of  force  and  casualties  of  2nd  Minne- 
sota regiment  in  the  campaign  of  the  Carolinas. 
(Wounded  2,  captured  5.)  Dated  March 23rd,  1865.244 

No.  28.  Gen.  Bishop  attributes  his  brevet  to  Brigadier 
General  to  the  gallant  and  soldierly  conduct  of  the 
2nd  regiment 246 

No.  29.  The  promotion  twice  recommended  and  re- 
quested by  the  corps  and  army  commanders 247 

No.  30.  The  2nd  Minnesota  regiment  reported  ready 
for  discharge  and  requests  orders  to  Fort  Snelling, 
Minnesota 248 

No.  31.    The  Corps  Commander's  farewell  address 249 


INDEX  TO  APPENDIX.  15 

PAGE. 

No.  32.    Orders  to  proceed  to  Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota. 250 

No.  33.  Roster  of  officers  when  regiment  left  Minne- 
sota for  the  South,  October,  1861 251 

No.  34.  Roster  of  officers  when  regiment  veteranized, 
January,  1864 251 

No.  35.  Roster  of  officers  at  final  muster  out,  July, 
1865 "..252 

No.  36.     Various  statistics  of  the  regiment 253 

No.  37.  Reunion  letters,  (1887),  from  Col.  H.  V.  N. 
Boynton,  Col.  F.  Van  Derveer,  Gen.  A.  Baird  and 
Gen.  W.  S.  Rosecrans 254 

ERROR— See  page  58.    Gov.  Ramsey's  visit  to  Tuscumbia 
was  not  on,  but  a  few  days  after  the  4th  July,  1862. 


THE 


SECOND    REGIMENT 

MINNESOTA  VETERAN  VOLUNTEER 
INFANTRY 

IN    THE 

CIVIL    WAR    OF    1861-186;. 


CHAPTER  I. 
GETTING  INTO  THE  SERVICE. 

The  surrender  and  evacuation  of  Fort'  Sumter 
on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  April  14th,  1861,  was 
followed  on  Monday,  the  15th,  by  the  President's 
proclamation  and  call  for  75,000  men  to  serve 
three  months. 

In  orders  from  the  war  department,  these  were 
apportioned  among  the  several  states  not  then  in 
open  rebellion,  in  ninety-four  regiments  of  780  men 
each,  the  remainder  (1,680  men)  to  be  contributed 
by  the  District  of  Columbia. 

Hon.  Alex.  Ramsey,  Governor  of  Minnesota, 
being  then  in  Washington,  immediately  tendered 
the  regiment  required  from  this  state,  and  an 
executive  proclamation,  signed  by  Lieut.  Governor 
Ignatius  Donnelly,  was  published  in  St.  Paul,  April 
16th.  It  was  accompanied  by  "Special  Order  No. 


18  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT 

1,"  Adjutant  General's  office,   State  of  Minnesota, 
April  16th,  1861,  by  Wm.  H.  Acker,  Adjutant  General. 

This  order  called  for  one  regiment  of  ten  com- 
panies, each  of  76  officers  and  men,  and  it  provided 
that  "the  first  ten  companies  so  organized  and 
"reported  ready  for  service  at  this  office  by  their 
"respective  captains  will  be  received,  provided  that 
"the  several  militia  companies  already  organized 
"will  be  entitled  to  the  preference  for  the  space  of 
"ten  days  from  this  date,  upon  comprying  with 
"the  foregoing  requirements." 

The  said  companies  already  organized  were 
named,  including  Company  "A"  of  Chatfield,  Fill- 
more  county,  of  which  the  wrriter  was  captain, 
and  seven  others,  located  at  Mankato,  New  Ulm, 
St.  Anthony,  Clear  Water,  St.  Cloud,  St.  Paul,  and 
Stillwater  respectively.  (Appendix  No.  1.) 

There  were  (in  1861)  no  railroads  in  Minnesota 
and  no  telegraph  lines  except  the  single  wire  from 
St.  Paul  along  the  river  bank  to  LaCrosse,  Wis. 

The  proclamation  and  special  order,  mailed  on 
the  17th  were  received  at  Chatfield  on  the  19th, 
and  published  in  "The  Democrat,"  on  the  20th, 
with  a  call  for  a  special  meeting  of  the  enrolled 
members  of  the  "Chatfield  Guards,"  (Company  A) 
to  be  held  at  the  Armory  on  Monday  evening, 
April  22nd,  to  consider  the  call  of  the  Governor  for 
volunteers. 

At  this  meeting,  which  'was  fully  attended,  the 
call  was  presented,  with  a  brief  address  by  the 
Captain ;  and  by  a  unanimous  vote,  he  was  author- 
ized to  offer  the  company  and  "to  report  it 
organized,  armed  and  ready  for  marching  orders." 


MINNESOTA  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  1861-1865.       19 

This  tender  and  report  were  forwarded  by  special 
messenger  the  same  night  to  Winona,  35  miles,  and 
thence  by  telegraph  to  the  Adjutant  General.  (No 
copy  of  it  can  now  be  found.} 

On  the  24th,  a  telegram  was  received  from  Lieu- 
tenant (and  acting)  Governor  Ignatius  Donnelly, 
accepting  the  company  and  instructing  it  to  await 
marching  orders.  This  was  the  seventh  company 
accepted  for  the  first  regiment,  two  companies  from 
St.  Paul,  one  from  St.  Anthony  and  three  others 
preceding  it,  having  received  the  call  two  or  three 
days  earlier.  A  letter  confirming  the  telegram  was 
received  on  the  25th.  (Appendix  Nos.  2  and  3.) 

We  were  puzzled  somewhat  by  observing  that 
both  telegram  and  letter  were  dated  April  22nd, 
when  our  tender  of  service  could  not  have  reached 
St.  Paul  until  the  morning  of  the  23rd,  but  satisfied 
ourselves  by  presuming  that  they  had  actually 
been  written  on  the  23rd  and  dated  by  mistake  on 
the  22nd. 

It  appeared  later  that  a  bogus  letter  purporting 
to  tender  the  company,  with  63  men,  "which 
number  could  be  increased  to  the  full  standard 
within  thirty  days,"  had  been  sent  on  the  19th 
to  the  Governor  by  some  person  as  yet  unknown, 
who  had  forged  the  Captain's  name  thereto,  and 
that  the  telegram  and  letter  of  acceptance  by 
Lieut.  Governor  Donnelly  were  in  fact  in  reply  to 
this  bogus  tender  of  a  partial  company,  while  our 
genuine  tender  of  a  full  company  was  not  re- 
sponded to  until  the  26th,  when  the  following  tele- 
gram was  sent  by  Adjutant  General  Sanborn,  who 
had  in  the  mean  time  succeeded  Acker,  who  had 


20  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT 

resigned    to  recruit  a    company,   of   which    he   was 
later  commissioned  captain : 

"ST.  PAI-L,  April  26th,  1861. 
Capt.  J.  W.  BISHOP,  Chatfield: 

You  will  keep  your  ranks  full  if  possible.  Eleven  full 
companies  have  already  tendered  their  services,  and  if  ten 
of  these  rendezvous  here  with  full  ranks  your  company  can- 
not be  received  into  this  regiment.  Some  may  not  answer 
the  order  of  rendezvous. 

JOHN  B.  SAXHORN, 

Adjutant  General." 

Meantime,  the  company,  full  to  the  maximum  and 
with  more  than  thirty  supernumeraries,  had  been 
busily  preparing  for  a  prompt  response  to  the 
expected  "marching  orders." 

If  surprised  by  the  telegram,  we  were,  if  possible, 
more  astonished  by  the  arrival  on  the  29th  of  a 
special  messenger  from  the  Adjutant  General's  office, 
with  an  order  for  our  guns  and  equipments,  and  the 
verbal  information  that  the  regiment  had  been  made 
up  by  the  acceptance  of  ten  companies,  which  he 
explained  were  more  conveniently  accessible  to  the 
rendezvous  at  Fort  Snelling,  than  ours.  (Appendix 
No.  4.) 

The  disappointment  and  indignation  with  whi'  h 
the  order  was  received  did  not  prevent  a  prompt 
compliance  with  it,  and  the  captain  went  to  St.  Paul 
with  his  guns  and  without  his  company. 

The  guns  were  received  by  the  Adjutant  General 
with  expressions  of  appreciation  of  our  promptness 
in  volunteering  and  regret  for  our  disappointment, 
but  there  appeared  to  be  no  redress  then  available, 
and  the  captain  was  obliged  to  return  to  his  dis- 
armed and  disgusted  company  and  dismiss  the  men 


MINNESOTA  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  1861-1865.       21 

with  the  promise  that,  if  the  war  should  last  long 
enough  to  call  for  a  second  regiment,  company  "  A  " 
should  not  again  get  left  at  home. 

After  authorizing  the  offer  of  their  services  for 
any  regiment  thereafter  required,  the  men  went  to 
their  homes  and  resumed  their  ordinary  employ- 
ments. (Appendix  Nos.  5  and  6.} 

A  letter  to  Hon.  H.  M.  Rice,  then  in  Washington 
as  senator  from  Minnesota,  brought  to  the  writer 
a  kind  reply  and  assurance  that  he  should  have  the 
earliest  possible  notice  of  any  further  call  for  troops ; 
a  promise  which  was  faithfully  fulfilled  by  a  telegram 
received  at  Chatfield  in  time  to  enable  him  to  reach 
St.  Paul  a  little  before  the  call  for  a  second  regi- 
ment was  received  by  the  governor. 

The  company  was  again  tendered  and  accepted, 
and  the  marching  orders  below  quoted  were 
requested  and  received  on  the  spot. 

"General  Headquarters,  State  of  Minnesota. 

ST.  PAUL,  June  14th,  1865. 
Special  Order  No.  5. 
Capt.   JUDSON    W.    BISHOP,    Chatfield,     Fillmore    county. 

Minnesota : 

You  will  report  your  company  at  Fort  Snelling  without 
delay,  for  the  purpose  of  having  the  same  mustered  into  the 
service  and  pay  of  the  United  States. 
By  order  of  the  Commander  in  Chief. 

JOHN  B.  SANBORN, 

Adjutant  General." 

Similar  orders  were  requested  and  obtained  by 
Capt.  Bishop  for  Capt.  William  Markham,  who  had 
a  company  organized  in  Olmsted  county,  which 
orders  were  carried  by  him  to  Chatfield  and  sent  by 


22  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT 

special  messenger  to  Capt.  Markham  at  Rochester, 
reaching  him  next  day. 

The  war  was  fairly  on  now,  and  the  call  was  for 
three  years'  men  instead  of  three  months.  It 
required  several  days  of  active  work  to  reassemble 
and  reenlist,  under  the  new  conditions,  enough  of 
the  men  to  make  a  full  company  of  eighty-three 
men,  the  minimum  now  required.  Yet  it  seems  in- 
credible, as  we  now  look  back  upon  it,  that  so 
many  could  and  would  divest  themselves  of  all  im- 
peding business,  social  and  family  obligations  and 
restraints,  and  commit  themselves  for  three  years 
to  the  then  unknown  hardships  and  perils  of  a  sol- 
dier's life  in  time  of  active  service. 

When  we  remember  that  our  then  young  State 
sent  into  the  field  during  the  war  more  than  one- 
seventh  of  her  entire  population  by  the  census  of 
1860,  we  appreciate  the  spirit  with  which  every 
loyal  heart  responded  to  "The  Union,  it  must,  and 
shall  be  preserved." 

The  enlistments  commenced  at  Chatfield  on  the 
16th  of  June,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  22nd  the 
company 'marched  up  the  winding  hillside  road  to 
the  table  land  east  of,  and  overlooking  the  village, 
and  there  halted  for  the  final  adieus. 

None  who  were  present  \vill  ever  forget  that  hour 
and  experience,  and  we  need  not  try  to  describe 
them  to  others. 

We  arrived  at  Winona,  traveling  in  wagons,  the 
same  evening,  and  went  thence  by  river  to  Fort 
Snelling,  arriving  the  next  day,  June  23rd,  and  on 
the  26th  were  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  by  Capt.  A.  D.  Nelson,  U.  S.  A.,  as 


MINNESOTA  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  1861-1865.       23 

Company  "A"  of  the  Second  Regiment  Minnesota 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  the  writer  was  immediately 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Post.  (Appendix 
No.  7.) 

Captain  Markham's  company,  which  had  arrived 
on  the  24th  from  Rochester,  was  mustered  in  later 
in  the  same  day  (26th)  as  Company  "B"  of  the 
same  regiment. 

Meantime  other  companies  were  being  recruited, 
and  during  the  next  few  days  were  mustered  in  suc- 
cessively, as  follows:  Company  "C"  from  Dodge 
county,  "D"  from  Ramsey,  "E"from  Nicollet,  "F" 
from  Washington,  "G"  from  Ramsey  and  Brown, 
"H"  from  Blue  Earth,  "I"  from  Goodhue,  and  "K" 
recruited  at  large. 

After  being  partially  armed,  uniformed  and  sup- 
plied, Company  "A"  marched  out  from  Fort  Snell- 
ing  on  the  3rd  day  of  July  with  orders  to  garrison 
the  post  at  Fort  Ripley,  130  miles  distant  on  the 
upper  Mississippi  river.  This  march  was  made 
wholly  on  foot,  in  seven  days,  one  wagon  being 
allowed  us  for  baggage  and  rations.  This  \vas  our 
first  experience  on  our  soldier  legs,  and  to  many  of 
the  men  it  was  a  pretty  tough  one,  but  they  all 
came  through  it  in  good  condition  and  spirit. 
Company  "F,"  Capt.  John  B.  Davis,  followed  us  a 
few  days  later  to  Fort  Ripley,  and  Companies  "B" 
and  "  C  "  went  to  Fort  Abercrombie  on  the  upper  Red 
river,  and  Companies  "D"  and  "E"  to  Fort  Ridgely 
on  the  upper  Minnesota  river ;  the  other  four  com- 
panies remained  at  Fort  Snelling,  with  Capt.  A.  R. 
Kiefer  of  Company  "G"  as  the  senior  officer  in 


24  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT 

command.    Thus  located,  the  next  few  weeks   were 
devoted  to  drill  and  instruction  of  the  men. 

On  the  22nd  of  July  the  Governor  appointed  H. 
P.  Van  Cleve  as  Colonel,  James  George  as  Lieut. 
Colonel  and  Simeon  Smith  as  Major.  Lieut.  Daniel 
Heaney  of  Company  "B"  was  appointed  Adjutant 
and  Lieut.  Wm.  Grow,  of  Company  "I,"  Quarter- 
master. Two  days  later  Reginald  Bingham  was 
appointed  Surgeon,  Moody  C.  Tolman,  Assistant 
Surgeon,  and  Rev.  Timothy  Cressey,  Chaplain. 
Major  Smith  was  within  a  few  days  appointed  pay- 
master in  the  regular  army,  and  on  the  10th  ol  Sep- 
tember Capt.  Alex.  Wilkin,  of  the  First  Minnesota 
Regiment,  was  appointed  Major  in  the  Second,  vice 
Smith. 

Col.  Van  Cleve  had  been  an  officer  in  the  regular 
army,  and  Lieut.  Col.  George  and  Major  Wilkin  had 
served  as  volunteer  officers  in  the  Mexican  war. 
None  of  the  other  officers  had  ever  had  any  actual 
military  experience  in  the  field  as  far  as  is  known 
to  the  writer. 

A  band  of  20  members  was  here  enlisted  and 
organized,  with  Michael  Esch  as  leader,  and  at  the 
expense  of  the  State  was  equipped  with  instruments 
and  music. 

About  the  20th  of  September,  orders  were  sent 
out  from  Regimental  Headquarters  recalling  the 
detached  companies  from  the  several  garrisoned 
posts,  and  within  the  first  week  of  October  the  reg- 
iment was  for  the  first  time  assembled  at  Fort 
Snelling,  Companies  "A"  and  "F"  making,  as  before, 
the  march  of  130  miles  in  seven  days,  and  on  arrival 
reporting  every  man  "for  duty." 


MINNESOTA  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  1861-1865.       25 

Here  a  few  days  were  devoted  to  active  prepar- 
ation for  going  to  "the  front."  Instruction  and 
drill,  guard  mounts  and  dress  parades,  and  issues 
of  clothing,  equipments,  arms  and  ammunition, 
made  a  very  busy  week  of  it.  As  the  time  for 
departure  approached,  our  camp  was  thronged 
with  visitors,  some  curious  to  see  the  evolutions 
and  parades,  and  some  to  take  leave  of  their 
soldier  boys,  who  might  never  return. 

Most  of  the  companies  were  now  full  or  nearly 
full  to  the  maximum  number  (101 )  and  the  regiment 
paraded  nearly  a  thousand  officers  and  men,  well 
equipped,  and  considering  their  brief  service,  well 
disciplined  and  instructed,  though  poorly  armed 
with  old  muskets  of  several  different  kinds  and 
calibres;  the  best  at  that  time  available,  we  were 
told,  and  so  they  were  carried  without  complaint 
until  opportunity  should  arrive  to  exchange  them 
for  better. 

Thus  far  the  post  kitchens  and  mess  rooms  and 
company  cooks  had  provided  three  bountiful  meals 
a  day;  and  except  for  a  few  days  on  the  march 
we  scarcely  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  hard  tack 
and  bacon,  now  so  affectionately  remembered  by 
men  who  then  grumbled  at  the  soft  bread,  fresh 
beef  and  vegetables  so  profusely  furnished  us  at 
Fort  Snelling. 

During  these  busy  days  Regimental  Headquarters 
were  graced  with  the  presence  of  Mrs.  and  Miss 
Van  Cleve,  the  Colonel's  wife  and  daughter,  whose 
kindlv  interest  in  everv  thing  that  concerned  the 


e> 


regiment  was  always  manifest  and   will  be  always 


26  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT 

gratefully  remembered  by  the  men.  At  this  writing 
(1890)  both  of  these  ladies  are  among  the  surviving 
and  honorary  members  of  the  regiment. 


CHAPTER  II. 
GOING  TO  THE  WAR. 

On  the  morning  of  the  14th  of  October,  1861, 
the  regiment  embarked  on  a  large  river  steamboat 
under  orders  for  Washington,  D.  C.  An  hour 
later  we  had  disembarked  at  the  upper  levee  in 
St.  Paul  for  a  parade  march  through  the  city.  The 
people  had  come  out  in  masses  to  see  us  off,  and 
Third  street  from  the  Seven  Corners  to  the  lower 
levee  was  lined  with  crowds  of  enthusiastic  men, 
women  and  children,  who  waved  hats,  handker- 
chiefs and  flags  and  greeted  our  passing  column 
with  cheers,  and  smiles,  and  tears  and  blessings,  that 
at  times  drowned  the  gay  music  of  the  band  and 
broke  up  the  rvthmic  tramp  of  our  platoons  in  spite 
of  our  efforts  to  be,  or  at  least  to  appear,  soldierly. 

None  of  us  could  then  predict  that  of  the  thous- 
and muskets,  less  than  three  hundred,  and  of  the 
thirty-six  swords,  only  three  should  at  last  return 
with  the  colors  then  so  proudly  floating  over  us. 
The  thought  was,  however,  in  every  heart  that  we 
had  taken  our  lives  in  our  hands  to  be  laid  down 
wherever  and  whenever  duty  might  call  for  them. 

The  march  ended  at  the  lower  levee,  where  we 
re-embarked  and  proceeded  down  the  river.  Throngs 


MINNESOTA  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  1861-1865.       27 

of  loyal  people  greeted  us  at  every  landing,  the 
friends  of  the  several  companies  having  come  from 
their  homes,  some  of  them  from  interior  towns,  to 
bid  the  boys  a  last  good-by. 

At  LaCrosse  we  were  transferred  to  the  railroad 
and  arrived  without  noteworthy  adventure  at  Chi- 
cago on  the  morning  of  the  16th,  and  \vere  marched 
to  and  quartered  in  the  "Wigwam, "the  large  tem- 
porary building  where  Abraham  Lincoln  had  been 
nominated  for  the  presidency  at  the  National  Re- 
publican Convention  the  year  before. 

Here  the  company  officers  were  ordered  to  keep 
the  men  strictly  within  the  building  until  they 
should  be  marched  out  again  under  arms.  The 
building  was  large  enough  not  to  be  crowded  with 
a  thousand  men,  but  not  being  intended  for  con- 
tinuous habitation  was  destitute  of  certain  conven- 
iences, which  are  as  necessary  for  soldiers  as  for 
other  human  beings,  and  most  of  the  companies  had 
to  be  marched  out  in  the  evening  for  exercise,  etc., 
in  the  open  streets,  where  the  maneuvers  greatly 
astonished  the  spectators. 

We  spent  the  night  in  the  Wigwam  and  marched 
the  next  day  to  the  Pittsburg  and  Fort  Wayne  R. 
R.  depot,  and  boarded  a  train  for  Pittsburg,  where 
we  arrived  in  the  afternoon  of  the  18th. 

Here  we  were  most  hospitably  received  and 
marched  to  a  public  hall,  where  a  bountiful  hot 
supper  was  served  by  an  association  of  loyal  and 
generous  ladies,  who  personally  attended  the  tables, 
to  which  the  soldiers  did  ample  justice.  This  kind 
reception,  and  others  like  it,  were  not  lost  upon  the 
soldiers.  Thev  remembered  and  talked  of  them 


'28  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT 

wherever  they  went,  and  many  a  camp  fire  was 
brightened  by  the  memory  of  the  kind  words  and 
gracious  and  sympathetic  attentions  of  loyal 
women,  to  whom  all  Union  soldiers  were  as  sons 
and  brothers. 

Here  our  orders  were  changed  from  Washington, 
I).  C.,  to  Kentucky,  and  on  the  19th  we  embarked 
on  three  small  steamers,  and  after  a  delightful 
voyage  down  the  Ohio  river,  landed  at  Louisville 
on  the  22nd. 

At  his  invitation,   the   writer   accompanied   Col. 
Van  Cleve  to  headquarters,  where  he  reported  the 
arrival  of  the  regiment  to  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  then 
commanding    the    Department  of  the   Cumberland. 
This  was  six  days  after  the  famous  conference  at 
Louisville  between  General  Sherman  and  the  Secre- 
tary of  War,  at  which  the  Secretary  was  so  plainly 
informed  that  if  Kentucky  was  to   be  held  for  the 
Union,  troops  and  arms  and  equipage  must  be  sent 
there  as  well  as  to  Virginia  and   Missouri,  and  the 
change  at  Pittsburg  of  our  destination  was  one  of 
the  immediate  results  of  that  conference.     It  was  at 
the  time  a  great  disappointment  to  us,  but  we  did 
not  complain  and  soon  ceased  altogether  to  regret  it. 
General  Sherman  received  us  in  an  absent-minded 
sort  of  way,  walking  back  and  forth  in  his   office. 
He  asked  a    few    disconnected   questions,  evidently 
thinking  of  other  things  as  well  as  of  us,  and  ended 
the   brief  interview    by    ordering    us    by    rail  that 
evening  to    Lebanon  Junction,  thirty  miles  distant, 
south,  on  the  Louisville  and    Nashville  R.    R.     We 
were  loaded  on  a  train  of  open  flat  cars  and  spent 
the  night  in  a  cold  rain  storm,  making  the  trip  at 


MINNESOTA  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  1861-1865.      29 

about  six  miles  per  hour,  stopping  a  while  at  every 
side  track,  and  occasionally  where  there  was  no 
siding. 

About  tour  o'clock  A.  M.  we  disembarked  and 
stacked  arms  in  a  field  near  the  Junction  and  stood 
around  in  the  soft  mud  until  sunrise,  to  keep  our- 
selves awake  that  we  might  be  ready  to  entertain 
any  party  of  the  enemy  who  might  make  us  an  early 
morning  call. 

Here  we  relieved  the  19th  Illinois  regiment,  then 
commanded  by  Colonel  J.  B.  Turchin. 

Sometime  in  the  day,  October  23rd,  our  baggage 
and  tents  arrived  on  another  train,  which  had 
started  with  us,  but  in  some  inexplainable  manner 
had  actually  run  slower  than  we  did.  Our  camp 
was  set  in  regulation  style,  in  a  field  just  within 
the  angle  formed  by  the  main  and  Lebanon  branch 
tracks,  and  at  "retreat,"  camp  guard  was  mounted 
and  we  considered  the  war  begun  so  far  as  we  were 
concerned. 

We  remained  here  several  weeks,  sending  out  de- 
tachments to  guard  the  railroad  bridges  in  the  vi- 
cinity, and  keeping  up  the  round  of  guard  and 
picket  duty,  drill  and  instruction.  "Reveille"  was 
sounded  an  hour  before  daylight,  and  we  then  had 
to  "stand  to  arms"  until  sunrise  to  guard  against 
a  surprise  by  the  enemy. 

The  camp  ground  was  damp  and  unhealthy,  and 
in  this  tedious  morning  hour  the  fog  settled  over 
us  like  a  cold  wet  blanket.  Our  sick  list  increased 
considerably  until  the  ground  was  drained  by  deep 
ditches  between  the  rows  of  tents,  and  the  practice 
was  adopted  of  serving  every  man  at  early  "roll 


30  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT 

call"  a  cup  of  hot  coffee  and  a  hard  tack,  which 
kept  him  warm  and  cheerful  until  breakfast  time. 

Here  the  paymaster  called  upon  us  and  squared 
our  accounts  to  the  31st  of  October,  and  here  we 
enjoyed  our  first  Thanksgiving  dinner  as  soldiers. 

On  the  15th  of  November,  Gen.  D.  C.  Buell  as- 
sumed the  command  at  Louisville,  and  on  the  2nd 
of  December  organized  the  troops  in  Kentucky  into 
the  "Army  of  the  Ohio." 

Gen.  Geo.  H.  Thomas  assumed  command,  on  the 
6th,  of  the  First  Division,  comprised  of  the  First, 
Second  and  Third  Brigades. 

These  were  composed  as  follows : 
First  Brigade:  Brig.  Gen.  Albin  Schoepf,  commanding. 

33rd  Reg.  Indiana  Volunteers,  Col.  John  Coburn. 

17th  Reg.  Ohio  Volunteers,  Col.  J.  M.  Connell. 

12th  Reg.  Kentucky  Volunteers,  Col.  W.  A.  Hoskins. 

38th  Reg.  Ohio  Volunteers,  Col.  E.  D.  Bradley. 
Second  Brigade:  Col.  M.  D.  Manson,  commanding. 
4th  Reg.  Kentucky  Volunteers,  Col.  S.  S.  Fry. 

14th  Reg.  Ohio  Volunteers,  Col.  J.  B.  Steedman. 

10th  Reg.  Indiana  Volunteers,  Lieut.  Col.  W.  S.  Kise. 

10th  Reg.  Kentucky  Volunteers,  Col.  J.  M.  Harlan. 
Third  Brigade:  Col.  R.  L.  McCook,  commanding. 

18th  Reg.  United  States  Infantry,  Col.  H.B.Carrington. 

2nd  Reg.  Minnesota  Volunteers,  Col.  H.P.Van  Cleve. 

35th  Reg.  Ohio  Volunteers,  Col.  F.  Van  Derveer. 

9th  Reg.  Ohio  Volunteers,  Lieut.  Col.  G.  Kammerling. 
Unassigned,  but  later  attached  to  First  Division. 

1st  Reg.  Kentucky  Cavalry,  Col.  F.  Wolford. 

Battery  "Bv  First  Ohio  Artillery,  Capt.  W.  B.  Stan- 
dardt. 

Battery  "C"  First  Ohio  Artillery,  Capt.  D.  Kenny. 

Battery  "  B  "  First  Kentucky  Artillery,  Capt. Wetm  ore. 

A  Batallion  of  Michigan  Engineer  troops,  Lieut.  Col. 
K.  A.  Hunton. 


MINNESOTA  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY  1861-1865.      31 

On  the  8th  of  December  the  3rd  Minnesota  regi- 
ment arrived  to  relieve  us  at  Lebanon  Junction, 
and  the  next  day  we  went  by  rail  thirty-seven  miles, 
to  Lebanon,  where  Gen.  Thomas  had  established 
his  headquarters. 

Now,  for  the  first  time,  we  were  brigaded  with 
other  troops  and  had  the  opportunity  to  compare 
our  own  with  other  regiments.  The  9th  Ohio, 
whose  Colonel  (Robert  L.  McCook)  was  our  bri- 
gade commander,  was  composed  entirely  of  Ger- 
mans, few  of  whom  could  speak  English.  The  regi- 
ment had  been  enlisted  at  Cincinnati,  and  had  seen 
several  months  of  active  service,  in  West  Virginia, 
participating  in  the  engagements  more  or  less  im- 
portant, at  Phillippi,  Rich  Mountain  and  Carnifex 
Ferry.  Their  manual  and  tactics  were  those  of  the 
German  army,  as  many  of  their  officers  had  seen 
service  there.  Naturally,0  with  their  experience  in 
actual  war,  they  regarded  us  as  comparatively 
fresh  and  we  modestly  respected  them  as  veterans, 
intending,  however,  to  stay  with  them  in  any  con- 
troversy we  might  have  by  and  by  with  the  com- 
mon enemy. 

The  35th  Ohio  was  also  our  senior  by  several 
months  of  service,  mostly  in  Kentucky,  but  not 
having  been  in  any  battle  and  using  our  language 
and  tactics,  they  did  not  claim  nor  were  they  con- 
ceded any  superiority. 

Both  these  regiments  were  brigaded  with  ours 
from  this  time  until  their  muster  out  at  the  expi- 
ration of  three  years  of  service,  and  we  had 
time  and  opportunity  for  close  acquaintance  and 


32  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT 

comradeship,  which  we  remember  pleasantly  after 
these  many  years. 

The  18th  United  States  Regular  Infantry  was 
then  one  of  the  newly  organized  regiments  of  three 
battalions  of  eight  companies  each.  They  held  them- 
selves somewhat  apart  from  us  volunteers,  and  be- 
fore we  had  got  fairly  on  the  same  plane  with  them 
as  soldiers,  they  were  placed  with  other  regular  regi- 
ments in  a  brigade  by  themselves,  the  87th  Indiana 
taking  their  place  in  our  brigade. 

Here  we  came  into  the  immediate  presence  of 
Geo.  H.  Thomas,  then  a  new  Brigadier  General  of 
Volunteers,  with  whom  as  our  Division,  Corps  or 
Army  commander,  we  served  continuously  for  the 
next  three  years,  until  the  beginning  of  the  "Grand 
March  to  the  Sea"  in  November,  1864. 

Of  him  as  a  man,  a  soldier  or  a  commander,  no 
man  who  ha"s  ever  served  \vith  him  has  any  \vords 
except  of  respectful  admiration. 

We  remained  in  camp  at  Lebanon  about  three 
weeks,  devoting  the  time  mainly  to  battalion  drill 
and  to  general  instruction  in  military  duties.  Our 
camp  ground  was  reasonably  fit  for  the  purpose, 
the  weather  not  unpleasant  for  the  season,  rations 
were  fully  and  regularly  issued,  and  altogether  we 
fared  better  as  soldiers  than  we  knew  or  appreci- 
ated at  the  time. 

Our  band  had  well  improved  the  long  intervals 
at  Fort  Snelling  and  Lebanon  Junction,  and  our 
parade-marches  and  dress  parades  and  guard 
mounts,  duly  illustrated  the  "pomp  and  circum- 
stance of  war."  Among  the  things,  the  importance 
of  which  was  to  be  better  appreciated  later,  was 


H.  P.  VAN  CLEVE,  COLONEL. 

July  22,  1861,  to  March  22,  1862, 

Brig  General,  U.  S.  V. 


THE  MILL  SPRINGS  CAMPAIGN.  33 

the  coeducation  of  the  wagoners  and  the  mules. 
This  was  begun  here  and  some  progress  made.  The 
earlier  lessons  afforded  a  good  deal  of  entertainment 
to  those  not  engaged  in  them,  but  were  sadly  de- 
moralizing to  the  wagoners.  It  has  been  stated 
that  no  man  ever  broke  a  team  of  six  green  army 
mules  without  breaking  his  Christian  character,  if 
he  had  any,  and  the  army  chaplain  who  offered  the 
long  standing  reward  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  the 
man  who  should  drive  such  a  team  for  thirty  days 
without  the  use  of  profane  language,  did  not  have 
to  part  with  his  money. 

With  all  the  comforts  of  the  situation  here,  we 
grew  weary  of  mere  preparation,  and  the  announce- 
ment that  we  were  about  to  commence  an  active 
campaign  received  a  general  and  genuine  welcome 
in  the  camp. 


CHAPTER  III. 
THE  MILL  SPRINGS  CAMPAIGN. 

On  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  January,  1862, 
our  brigade  folded  the  tents,  loaded  the  baggage 
train,  and,  with  bands  playing  and  colors  dis- 
played, marched  out  on  the  Columbia  "pike." 

Thirteen  wagons  were  allotted  for  the  tents  and 
baggage  of  each  regiment,  and  they  were  loaded 
to  their  roofs.  Each  man  was  expected  to  carry 
his  rifle  and  accoutrements,  with  forty  rounds  of 
ball  cartridges,  knapsack  with  all  his  personal 


34  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

property,  overcoat,  blanket,  canteen,  and  haversack 
with  three  days'  rations  in  it,  a  load  of  forty  to 
fifty  pounds. 

We  marched  that  day  fourteen  miles,  and  the 
next,  twelve  miles,  encamping  near  Campbells- 
ville.  Here  we  found  that  most  of  the  men  were 
tired,  sore-footed  and  hungry,  and  many  of  them 
had  lost  their  overcoats,  blankets,  or  some  other 
part  of  their  loads  on  the  way.  The  roads  were, 
however,  hard  and  smooth,  and  our  wagons  came 
up  in  good  season,  so  we  made  comfortable  camps. 

We  remained  here  four  days  while  the  wagon 
trains  went  back  to  Lebanon  and  returned  with 
more  rations  and  supplies,  and  on  the  7th  we 
marched  again  \vith  somewhat  better  preparation 
than  before;  the  men  carrying  more  rations,  and 
less  unnecessary  stuff  in  their  knapsacks,  and  made 
twelve  miles  comfortably. 

On  the  8th  we  passed  through  Columbia,  and 
here  leaving  the  "pike"  we  turned  eastward  on 
the  "dirt  road."  It  immediately  began  to  rain, 
and  before  night  the  road  was  almost  impassable. 
The  next  ten  days  were  spent  alternately  in  short 
but  tedious  marches  in  the  mud  and  slush  and 
rain,  and  in  waiting  for  the  wagon  trains  to  come 
up,  so  about  half  the  nights  and  days  the  troops, 
without  shelter,  were  lying  in  the  woods  or  fields 
along  the  roadside.  This  in  mid-winter  was  a  very 
discouraging  experience  to  the  volunteers  then  on 
their  first  campaign.  Yet  they  learned  speedily  to 
make  themselves  as  comfortable  as  the  circum- 
stances permitted,  and  things  were  never  so  bad 
that  some  fun  could  not  be  had. 


THE  MILL  SPRINGS  CAMPAIGN.  35 

General  Buell  had  issued  an  order  that  no  pri- 
vate property  should  be  appropriated  by  the  troops 
without  proper  authority,  and  thus  far  the  fuel 
had  been  provided  by  the  quartermaster,  but  one 
evening  we  encamped  in  some  open  fields  where 
there  was  no  cut  wood  or  forest  accessible.  The 
fields  were  however  well  fenced  with  dry  rails  and, 
after  some  exasperating  delay,  authority  was  ob- 
tained to  use  in  this  emergencv  "only  the  top  rail" 
of  the  fence  along  the  color  line.  The  cheery  camp 
fires  were  soon  blazing  and  we  had  plenty  of  fuel 
all  the  night;  next  morning  the  fence  was  entirely 
gone.  The  company  commanders  were  called  to 
account  for  its  disappearance,  but  were  unable  to 
find  any  man  who  took  any  but  the  "top  rail." 

As  we  passed  through  the  country  we  found 
usually  only  old  men,  women  and  children  at 
home,  most  of  the  able  bodied  citizens  having 
joined  some  regiment  on  one  side  or  the  other.  In 
some  cases  brothers  had  enlisted  in  opposing  reg- 
iments. Generally  the  people  at  home  were  not 
seriously  foraged  upon  or  molested,  but  pigs  and 
geese  occasionally  did  come  into  the  camps  and 
were  duly  "mustered  into  the  army." 

On  the  12th  of  January  we  encamped  about 
noon  near  an  old  time  "apple  jack"  still.  It  had 
recently  been  in  operation  and  a  considerable 
quantity  of  the  seductive  product  thereof  was  yet 
in  the  rude  building.  This  was  speedily  appropri- 
ated by  the  soldiers  as  "contraband  of  war,"  and 
a  night  of  uncommon  hilarity  in  the  camps  resulted. 

On  the  17th  of  January  the  head  of  the  column 
arrived  at  Logan's  Crossroads,  nine  miles  north  of 


36  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Zollicoffer's  intrenched  camp  at  Beech  Grove  and 
seven  miles  west  of  Somerset,  where  the  first 
brigade,  commanded  by  General  Schoepf,  was 
posted.  Beech  Grove  was  a  naturally  good  posi- 
tion on  the  north  bank  of  the  Cumberland,  on  the 
east  side  of  Oak  Creek  at  its  junction  with  the 
river.  Mill  Springs,  by  which  name  the  campaign 
and  battle  are  known  in  our  history,  was  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  Cumberland  opposite  Beech 
Grove,  and  had  no  relation  to  the  battle  as  far  as 
is  known;  neither  had  Fishing  Creek,  from  which 
the  Confederates  named  the  affair  that  took  place 
on  the  19th  at  Logan's  Crossroads.  Here  we 
halted  for  the  closing  up  of  the  column  and  to 
await  Schoepf's  brigade,  which  was  ordered  to 
join  us. 

The  first  and  second  East  Tennessee  (Union) 
infantry  regiments,  under  Brig.  General  Carter, 
were  temporarily  attached  to  our  division  at  this 
time,  also  a  battalion  of  Michigan  Engineer  troops. 
On  the  18th,  of  the  forces  present,  the  2nd  Minne- 
sota, 9th  Ohio  and  12th  Kentucky,  with  the  En- 
gineer battalion,  were  encamped  around  Thomas' 
headquarters  on  the  Columbia-Somerset  road, 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  west  of  Logan's  house. 
At  and  near  Logan's  house  were  the  4th  Kentucky, 
10th  Indiana  and  the  1st  and  2nd  East  Tennessee, 
the  battalion  of  Wolford's  Cavalry  and  two  Ohio 
batteries,  Kenny's  and  Standards;  Schoepf  with 
Wetmore's  Kentucky  battery,  the  33rd  Indiana 
and  17th  and  38th  Ohio,  were  at  Somerset;  and 
the  10th  Kentucky  and  14th  Ohio  were  on  the 
road  some  miles  back  towards  Columbia ;  all  these 


THE  MILK  SPRINGS  CAMPAIGN.  37 

forces  joined  us  the  afternoon  or  evening  after  the 
battle,  as  did  the  35th  Ohio.  The  18th  regulars 
were  still  further  away  and  did  not  arrive  till 
several  days  afterwards.  So  we  had  present  and 
available  for  the  battle  seven  regiments,  two 
battalions  and  two  batteries.  Only  four  regiments 
and  the  battalion  of  cavalry  were,  however,  engaged 
seriously  enough  to  have  any  casualties. 

General  Crittenden,  the  confederate  commander, 
in  his  report  gives  his  order  of  march,  naming  in 
his  column  of  attack  eight  regiments,  three  battal- 
ions and  two  batteries.  All  his  regiments  were 
engaged  in  the  battle  and  lost  heavily  on  the  field, 
according  to  his  official  report  and  casualty  list. 

From  a  point  midway  between  Thomas'  head- 
quarters and  Logan's  farm,  where  the  Columbia- 
Somerset  road  runs  nearly  east  and  west,  a  road 
led  in  a  southwesterly  direction  to  the  Cumberland 
river,  passing  about  half  a  mile  south  of  head- 
quarters, and  is  called  the  Jamestown  road. 
Another  road  led  from  Logan's  farm  southward  to 
Beech  Grove  and  Mill  Springs,  and  is  called  the 
Mill  Springs  road  in  the  reports.  The  battlefield 
of  the  19th  was  on  both  sides  of  this  road,  and 
from  half  a  mile  to  a  mile  south  from  the  cross- 
roads or  junction  at  Logan's  house.  The  ground 
was  undulating  and  mostly  covered  with  thick 
woods  and  brush,  with  some  small  open  fields  en- 
closed by  the  usual  rail  fences  of  the  country. 

About  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  18th, 
Company  "A"  went  out  on  the  Jamestown  road 
and  assumed  the  "Grand  guard"  duty,  posting 
our  reserve  about  half  a  mile  south  of  our  camp, 

211345 


38  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

with  an  advance  post  eighty  rods  further  out  and 
with  a  line  of  pickets  thence  extending  to  the  right 
and  to  the  left  and  connecting  in  the  last  direction 
with  those  of  the  East  Tennessee,  and  they  with 
those  of  the  10th  Indiana,  which  in  a  similar  manner 
guarded  the  Mill  Springs  road,  their  reserve  post 
being  perhaps  a  mile  east  of  ours  across  the  fields. 

We  had  hardly  got  into  place  when  darkness 
and  rain  were  upon  us;  the  darkest  night  and  the 
coldest  and  most  pitiless  and  persistent  rain  we 
ever  knew.  It  was  with  great  difficulty  that  the 
pickets  could  be  visited  or  relieved  at  all  during 
the  night,  and  the  cooking  of  supper  or  even 
of  coffee  was,  in  the  absence  of  shelter,  out  of 
the  question.  Nothing  happened  to  break  the  tedi- 
ous monotony  of  the  night,  but  it  has  often  since 
occurred  to  us,  that  if  we  had  known  that  Critten- 
den's  forces  had  at  midnight  turned  out  of  their 
comfortable  tents  and  dry  blankets  and  for  the 
next  six  weary  hours  were  sloshing  along  in  the 
mud  and  storm  and  darkness,  we  could  have  much 
enjoyed  the  contemplation  of  their  physical  and 
spiritual  condition.  It  was  always  some  comfort 
to  the  soldier  on  such  a  night  as  this,  to  think 
that  his  enemy  over  there,  was  at  least  as  wet 
and  cold  and  wretched  as  he  was  himself. 

Just  at  daybreak  arms  were  taken  and  prep- 
arations were  being  made  to  relieve  the  pickets,  when 
a  musket  shot,  another,  and  then  five  or  six  more 
m  quick  succession  rang  out  with  startling  distinct- 
ness over  on  the  Mill  Springs  road,  a  mile  or  more 
to  our  left  and 'front.  This  was  the  first  rebel  shot 
we  had  ever  heard.  At  last  the  enemy!  now  we 


THE  MILL  SPRINGS  CAMPAIGN.  39 

were  going  to  have  a  battle.  Our  first  thought  was, 
"they  are  making  a  feint  on  that  road  while  the}' 
come  in  force  on  ours,"  which  was  the  widest 
and  best  traveled  one.  Every  man  was  keenly 
awake  and  alive  with  expectation,  when  again 
on  the  Mill  Springs  road  the  firing  broke  out, 
nearer  than  before,  scattering  at  first,  then  thicker 
and  faster  as  the  enemy's  advance  struck  the 
picket  reserve.  After  a  few  minutes  all  was 
still  again  at  the  front,  but  in  the  camps  behind 
us  the  long-roll  was  beating  and  the  companies 
were  forming  in  hot  haste,  and  presently  we  heard 
our  regiment  and  the  9th  Ohio  moving  off  towards 
Logan's  farm. 

Then  the  firing  broke  out  again  as  the  enemy 
came  up  to  the  10th  Indiana  and  later  on  to  the  4th 
Kentucky,  those  regiments  having  hastily  got  into 
position  in  the  woods  about  half  a  mile  in  front  of 
their  camp.  Here  the  enemy  were  held  for  some 
time  and  were  compelled  to  bring  up  and  deploy 
their  two  brigades  for  an  attack  in  full  force.  In 
the  meantime  the  2nd  Minnesota  and  9th  Ohio 
arrived,  (nine  companies  of  each,)  and  in  good  order 
were  put  into  the  fight  under  General  Thomas' 
personal  direction,  the  2nd  taking  the  line  first 
occupied  successively  by  the  10th  and  4th,  which 
regiments  were  retired  to  replenish  their  ammuni- 
tion, and  the  9th  Ohio  forming  on  its  right;  the 
Mill  Springs  road  dividing  the  two  newly  arrived 
regiments. 

The  new  line  was  immediately  advanced  some 
distance  through  the  woods,  guiding  on  the  road. 
The  rain  had  now  ceased  but  the  air  was  loaded 


40  THE  STORY  OK  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

with  mist  and  smoke,  and  the  underbrush  in  our 
part  of  the  field  was  so  thick  that  a  man  was 
hardly  visible  a  musket's  length  away.  Suddenly 
the  2nd's  line  came  against  a  rail  fence  with  an 
open  field  in  front  and  a  line  of  the  enemy's  troops 
were  dimly  seen  through  the  mist  some  twenty  or 
thirty  rods  distant  in  the  field.  The  firing  com- 
menced immediately  and  in  a  few  minutes  the 
enemy's  line,  just  mentioned,  had  disappeared. 
It  was  in  fact  his  second  line,  the  first  being  liter- 
ally under  the  guns  and  noses  of  the  2nd  regiment, 
only  the  fence  intervening.  The  sudden  arrival  of 
the  2nd  at  this  fence  was  a  surprise  to  the  rebel 
20th  Tennessee,  which  was  alreadv  just  arrived 
there,  and  it  was  a  surprise  also  to  our  boys  to 
discover,  in  the  heat  of  the  engagement,  that  the 
opposite  side  of  the  fence  was  lined  with  recumbent 
rebels.  Here,  as  Col.  R.  L.  McCook  says  in  his 
official  report,  "the  contest  was  at  first  almost 
hand-to-hand;  the  enemy  and  the  2nd  Minnesota 
were  poking  their  guns  through  the  same  fence." 
This  condition  of  things  could  not  and  did  not 
last  long  after  our  boys  really  discovered  and  got 
after  them;  many  of  the  enemy  were  killed  and 
wounded  there,  but  more  after  they  got  up  and 
were  trying  to  get  away.  Some  remained  and 
surrendered.  One  lieutenant,  as  the  firing  ceased 
and  the  smoke  lifted,  stood  a  few.  feet  in  front  of 
Company  "I"  of  the  2nd  and  calmly  faced  his  fate. 
His  men  had  disappeared  and  he  was  called  on  to 
surrender.  He  made  no  reply  but  raising  his  revol- 
ver fired  into  our  ranks  with  deliberate  aim,  shoot- 
ing Lieut.  Stout  through  the  body.  Further  parley 


THK  MILL  SPRINGS  CAMPAIGN.  41 

was  useless  and  he  was  shot  dead  where  he  stood. 
He  was  young  Bailie  Peyton,  the  son  of  a  noble 
sire,  whose  sword,  presented  by  the  citizens  of  New 
Orleans  for  his  gallant  service  in  the  Mexican  war, 
was  here  found  on  the  dead  body  of  his  son.  We 
met  his  father  later  at  his  home  near  Gallatin, 
Tennessee.  He  was  one  of  the  foremost  Union  men 
of  his  state  and  it  was  an  inexpressible  grief  to 
him  that  his  only  son  should  have  enlisted  in  the 
Rebel  cause.  He  said  that  his  only  comfort  was, 
in  the  reflection  that  he  did  not  die  as  a  coward. 

The  enemy  in  front  of  the  9th  Ohio,  sheltered  by 
some  buildings  and  fences,  obstinately  maintained 
their  position  and  a  bayonet  charge,  in  which  part 
of  the  2nd  joined,  was  finally  ordered  and  made  and 
this  finished  the  fight. 

In  the  meantime,  at  our  post  on  the  Jamestown 
road,  we  listened  to  the  battle  in  a  state  of  excite- 
ment which  I  cannot  attempt  to  describe. 

As  the  regiments  moved  out  of  camp  towards 
the  field,  and  the  heavier  volleys  seemed  to  settle 
the  question  that  it  was  to  be  a  battle  over  there 
and  not  a  feint,  we  (of  Company  A)  had  about 
decided  to  abandon  our  post  and  join  the  regiment, 
when  the  Lieut.  Colonel  commanding  the  Engineer 
battalion  rode  up  and  said  General  Thomas  had 
left  him  in  charge  of  all  guards  and  picket  details, 
and  ordered  us  to  stack  arms  and  remain  where 
we  were.  His  battalion  came  out  a  few  minutes 
later  and  halted  near  us.  We  begged  him  to 
relieve  us,  but  entreaty  or  argument  availed  nothing 
with  him  until  the  final  conflict,  just  described,  had 
fairly  opened  with  a  volley  of  musketry  more 


42  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

terrible  than  before,  and  so  long  continued  as  to 
leave  no  possible  doubt.  Then  he  conceded  that 
we  were  no  longer  needed  at  our  post,  and  con- 
sented that  we  should  go  to  the  field  with  the 
reserve  only,  leaving  all  the  men  out  on  the  picket 
line  and  advance  post.  So  we  started  on  a  run 
across  the  plowed  fields  in  a  direct  line  for  the 
battle.  As  we  approached  the  woods  we  were 
obliged  to  deflect  somewhat  to  the  left  to  find  an 
open  way,  and  finally  got  into  the  Mill  Springs  road 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  the  battle- 
ground, just  as  the  final  charge  was  made.  The 
yelling  of  the  charging  regiments  was,  if  possible, 
more  stimulating  to  us  than  the  musketry  had 
been,  but,  in  fact,  we  \vere  nearly  exhausted 
physically  when  we  turned  southward  in  the 
narrow  winding  road  towards  the  field  of  battle. 
Nowr  we  met  the  stragglers  and  skulkers  and  the 
wounded.  On  the  first  stretcher  was  the  body  of 
Lieut  Stout,  and  one  of  the  bearers  was  that 
courtly  gentleman  and  honored  citizen,  Mr.  Charles 
Scheffer,  of  St.  Paul.  He  was  then  State  Treasurer, 
and  had  on  the  previous  day  taken  from  our  regi- 
ment the  allotments  of  pay  then  authorized  to  be 
paid  to  families  or  dependents  at  home.  He  had 
gone  out  to  the  battle  with  the  regiment  and  had 
found  this  opportunity  to  render  kind  service  to 
the  wounded  men.  As  \ve  approached  the  fighting 
ground  the  trees  were  flecked  with  bullets  and  the 
underbrush  had  been  cut  away  as  with  a  scythe, 
the  dead  and  wounded  lay  along  the  fence,  on  one 
the  blue,  on  the  other  the  gray;  further  on  the 
enemy's  dead  were  everywhere  scattered  across  the 


THE  MILL  SPRINGS  CAMPAIGN.  43 

open  field,  and  lay  in  a  windrow  along  the  ridge 
where  the  second  line  had  stood.  We  halted  a 
moment  where  the  body  of  General  Zollicofter  lay 
beside  the  wagon  track.  He  had  been  shot  through 
the  heart  by  Colonel  Fry,  of  the  4th  Kentucky, 
early  in  the  battle.  The  two  officers,  each  with  an 
aid,  had  met  in  the  narrow  winding  roadway  as 
they  were  respectively  getting  their  troops  into 
position  in  the  woods  on  each  side  of  it.  All  wore 
waterproof  coats  or  ponchos,  and  at  first  did  not 
recognize  each  other  as  enemies.  As  soon  as  they 
did,  revolvers  were  drawn ;  Zollicoffer's  aid  fired  at 
Col.  Fry  and  got  out  of  the  way,  leaving  his  chief 
to  fall  by  the  return  he  had  in vited.  The  body  had 
been  dragged  out  of  the  way  of  passing  artillery 
and  wagons,  and  lay  by  the  fence;  the  face  up- 
turned to  the  sky  and  bespattered  with  mud  from 
the  feet  of  marching  men  and  horses.  It  was  decently 
cared  for  later,  and,  with  that  of  Lieut.  Bailie 
Peyton,  was  sent  through  the  lines  to  Nashville 
for  interment.  We  soon  found  our  regiment  and 
joined  it.  The  battle  was  over,  and  the  mob  of 
demoralized  fugitives  in  the  distance  were  rapidly 
getting  out  of  sight. 

Col.  Van  Cleve  sent  a  messenger  to  relieve  and 
bring  up  our  men  left  on  the  picket  line,  and,  as 
the  advance  was  being  resumed,  gave  us  the  lead. 
The  pursuit  was,  however,  tedious  and  uneventful. 
Occasionally  a  few  shots  were  exchanged  with  the 
enemy's  rear  guard,  and  some  exhausted  or  wounded 
stragglers  captured  were  all  we  had  to  enliven  the 
chase  until  we  approached  Moulden's  hill,  a  high 
ridge  within  a  mile  of  and  commanding  the 


44  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

intrenched  camp  at  Beech  Grove.  Here  a  show  of 
resistance  was  made,  and  General  Thomas  halted 
and  developed  his  forces  in  order  of  attack.  The 
advance  up  the  easy  slope  of  the  hill  was  an 
inspiring  spectacle  to  us,  but  the  enemy  did  not 
remain  to  enjoy  it.  When  our  skirmish  line  reached 
the  crest  of  the  ridge  their  rear  guard  was  seen  in 
full  retreat  again,  and  soon  disappeared  within 
their  camp.  Our  batteries  were  brought  up,  and 
one  of  them,  posted  on  the  left  near  the  river, 
practised  a  while  with  shell  on  a  little  steamer 
crossing  and  recrossing  the  stream  at  a  point 
below  the  camp,  provoking  a  reply  from  the 
enemy's  guns  which,  however,  did  us  no  harm. 

The  sun  was  yet  an  hour  high  and,  as  it  after- 
wards appeared,  an  immediate  advance  upon  the 
camp  would  have  met  with  no  formidable  organized 
resistance,  though  it  was  well  protected  by  breast- 
works, abbattis  and  entanglements.  Some  val- 
uable lives  would,  however,  have  been  lost  in  an 
assault  at  that  time,  and  probably  most  of  the 
enemy  would  have  escaped,  as  they  afterwards 
did,  by  dispersion,  but  without  immediately  cross- 
ing the  river.  The  truth,  not  then  known,  but 
generally  suspected,  was  that  the  demoralized 
rebels  were  crossing  the  Cumberland  as  fast  as  they 
could,  and  most  of  the  men  got  over  before  morning. 
After  a  brief  survey  of  the  situation  as  far  as  it 
was  then  to  be  seen,  General  Thomas  bivouacked 
his  troops  in  line  of  battle  where  they  were  first 
halted ;  and  during  the  evening  the  other  regiments 
of  his  command,  which  had  not  been  in  the  battle, 
came  up,  except  the  18th  regulars.  The  night  was 


THE  MILL  SPRINGS  CAMPAIGN.  45 

clear  and  cold,  and  the  men  of  Company  "A"  had 
had  no  food  or  rest  during  the  thirty  hours  past, 
and  none  of  the  regiments  had  eaten  during  the 
day.  The  exposure  to  the  storm  during  the  night, 
the  excitement  and  physical  exhaustion  of  the 
morning's  wild  race  across  the  soft  ploughed  field, 
of  the  battle  and  the  day's  tramp,  began  to  tell. 

Rations  had  been  spoiled  in  the  haversacks  by 
the  rain,  or  left  behind  in  the  morning,  and  not 
until  nine  or  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening,  when  the 
trains  came  up,  was  anything  procurable  to  eat. 

That  night's  exposure  broke  down  many  strong 
men  in  our  regiment  who  never  recovered  for  dutv. 

Next  morning  our  regiment  marched  into  the 
camp  of  the  20th  Tennessee,  within  the  intrench- 
ments,  and  filed  oflf  into  the  company  streets  just 
as  we  would  have  done  in  our  own.  Apparently 
the  20th  men  had  not  visited  their  tents  at  all 
since  they  had  left  them  at  midnight  to  attack  us; 
provisions,  clothing,  blankets  and  all  the  comforts 
that  accumulate  about  a  soldier  during  a  month 
in  camp,  were  here  in  profusion.  All  the  camps 
were  left  by  the  enemy's  regiments  in  like  manner, 
the  tents  standing  and  officers'  baggage  and  per- 
sonal effects,  and  supplies  of  all  sorts,  in  hospitable 
abandonment.  All  the  artillery,  except  one  gun 
left  back  mired  in  the  mud,  was  found  fully  horsed 
and  standing  in  the  narrow  roadway  leading  down 
into  the  valley  from  the  camp;  the  leading  gun 
had  locked  a  wheel  on  a  small  tree,  and  the  whole 
train  had  been  then  and  there  abandoned ;  more 
than  a  thousand  horses  and  mules  were  frolicking 
about  the  valley,  helping  themselves  to  forage  from 


46  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

the  unguarded  piles.  A  few  wagons  hastily  loaded 
with  baggage  were  found  on  the  steamboat  land- 
ing, awaiting  a  crossing  that  was  not  to  be  made. 
A  few  sick,  wounded  and  skulkers  were  added  to 
our  list  of  prisoners,  but  the  army  that  had  a  few 
hours  before  marched  out  in  that  midnight  storm 
to  surprise  "old  Pap  Thomas,"  was  now  scattered 
all  over  the  country  south  of  the  Cumberland, 
every  man  getting  away  as  fast  and  as  far  as  he 
could.  Probably  not  many  of  those  men  were  ever 
brought  together  again  as  organized  regiments ; 
they  certainly  spread  dismay  and  consternation  all 
over  the  country  wherever  they  went,  and  probably 
thus  contributed  much  to  succeeding  Union  victories 
in  Tennessee. 

The  little  steamer,  which  had  been  for  twelve 
hours  so  busily  engaged  in  crossing  the  stampeded 
rebels,  was  set  on  fire  by  the  last  to  cross,  and 
drifted  down  the  river  and  out  of  sight. 

Schoepf's  brigade  was  sent  on  the  21st  across 
the  river  to  pursue  the  enemy,  but  there  was  no 
enemy  to  pursue  and  he  returned.  On  the  same 
day  we  returned  to  our  camp  at  Logan's  cross- 
roads, and  the  22nd  was  spent  in  issuing  supplies. 
The  dead  of  both  armies  were  buried  on  the  20th 
and  21st,  and  the  wounded  were  cared  for  as  well 
as  the  circumstances  permitted. 

On  the  23rd  we  marched  to  Somerset,  and 
thence  southward  about  two  miles.  Our  trains 
were  mired  in  the  road  near  Fishing  Creek,  about 
three  miles  from  Logan's,  and  we  spent  a  miser- 
able night  without  shelter.  On  the  24th  we  en- 
camped in  a  pleasant  field  on  the  north  bank  of 


THE  MILL  SPRINGS  CAMPAIGN.  47 

the  Cumberland  river,  where  we  made  ourselves 
comfortable  for  a  few  days.  Meantime  our  sick 
and  wounded  men  were  distributed  in  all  the 
available  buildings  in  and  near  Somerset,  and  in 
these  temporary  hospitals  were  cared  for  as  well 
as  could  be  under  the  circumstances.  Many  a 
brave  fellow  who,  in  anticipation  of  a  battle  had 
cheerfully  endured  the  hardships  of  the  march,  now 
succumbed.  The  sick  largely  outnumbered  the 
wounded,  and  our  permanent  loss  from  disease 
originating  or  developed  in  this  campaign  was 
more  than  15  per  cent,  of  the  total  force,  while 
the  killed  and  wounded  was  less  than  IVi  per  cent, 
of  the  troops  engaged,  and  many  of  the  wounded 
were  only  temporarily  disabled.  Of  the  campaign 
it  might  be  said  that  the  march  would  have  been 
a  severe  one  even  for  veterans. 

The  battle  was  on  both  sides  desperately  con- 
tested while  it  lasted,  but  was  soon  over,  and  the 
victory  on  the  field  was  decisive  and  complete. 

Among  the  trophies  was  a  flag  of  the  Fifteenth 
Mississippi,  captured  by  the  Second  Minnesota, 
and  by  General  Thomas  forwarded  to  the  war 
department.  (Appendix  No.  8.) 

This  flag  is  among  those  now  awaiting  the 
direction  of  Congress  and,  let  it  be  hoped,  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  as  to  their  final  dis- 
position. 

Another  trophy  that  now  reposes  in  the  goodly 
company  of  war  worn  flags,  in  the  Adjutant  Gen- 
eral's office  at  the  capitol  of  Minnesota,  is  a  hand- 
some banner  with  the  inscription:  "Mill  Springs, 
"Jan'y  19,  1862,  2nd  Reg't  Minn.  Vol.  Inf'y. 


48  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

"  Presented  in  behalf  of  the  Loyal  Ladies  of  Louisville, 
"Ky."  This  was  in  commemoration  of  this  battle 
and  victory;  which  redeemed  Kentucky  to  the  Union 
of  States,  not  to  be  seriously  or  permanently  oc- 
cupied by  the  Confederates  again  during  the  war. 

The  casualties  of  the  nine  companies  engaged  of 
our  regiment  were  12  killed  and  33  wounded. 
In  the  four  regiments  (and  Wolford's  battalion) 
engaged,  the  Union  loss  was  40  killed  and  207 
wounded.  Total  casualties  247.  The  Confederate 
loss  was  stated  by  General  Crittenden  at  126 
killed,  309  wounded  and  99  missing,  total  534; 
but  General  Thomas  reports  the  Confederate  dead, 
buried  by  our  troops,  at  192  and  the  unwounded 
prisoners  at  89,  which  with  the  309  wounded  and 
10  missing,  not  captured,  would  make  the  Confed- 
erate loss  600 ;  under  the  circumstances  Thomas 
must  be  conceded  to  be  the  better  authority  as  to 
the  dead  and  prisoners.  On  the  other  hand,  Crit- 
tenden, who  could  have  had  no  knowledge  of  the 
Union  loss,  estimates  it  at  700,  and  says  "It  was 
"larger  than  mine  from  the  fact  that  mv  regiments 
"on  the  left  after  having  been  first  driven  back  fired 
"from  the  cover  of  woods  and  fences  upon  a  large 
"number  advancing  upon  them  through  an  open 
"field,  inflicting  heavy  loss  and  sustaining  but  little." 

He  had,  in  fact,  more  than  twice  as  many  men 
engaged  as  we  did,  and  his  loss  on  the  field  was  to 
ours  about  in  the  same  proportion;  so  if  it  were 
or  were  not  true  that  his  troops  were  the  better 
sheltered  the  fire  of  our  men  must  have  been  the 
better  directed  and  delivered.  (Appendix  Nos.  9, 
10,  11  and  12.} 


MILL  SPRINGS  TO  SHILOH.  49 

CHAPTER  IV. 
MILL  SPRINGS  TO  SHILOH. 

On  the  10th  of  February,  we  folded  our  tents 
again  and  began  the  return  march  to  Louisville. 
In  the  afternoon  we  camped  a  mile  north  of  Somer- 
set, where  we  remained  the  next  day  and  said 
"good-by"  to  many  of  our  comrades  in  the  hos- 
pitals who  were  too  sick  or  too  badly  wounded  to 
be  moved.  Here  it  rained  and  snowed  alternately, 
as  it  did  in  fact,  nearly  every  day  of  the  march  to 
the  Ohio  river.  The  roads  were  almost  impassable 
and  the  companies  were  ordered  each  to  march 
with  its  wagon  to  help  it  along  as  it  often  became 
necessary  to  do. 

On  the  14th  we  arrived  at  Crab  Orchard  where 
we  struck  the  "pike,"  as  macadamized  roads  are 
always  called  in  that  country,  and  thenceforward 
the  march  was  less  tedious,  though  the  weather 
did  not  much  improve. 

On  the  15th  we  passed  through  Stanford  and 
on  the  16th  arrived  at  Danville  where  we  rested  one 
day  while  it  rained. 

On  the  18th  made  a  long  march,  passing  through 
Perry  ville,  halting  there  only  long  enough  to  observe 
the  academy  with  its  garrison  of  bright-eyecl 
school-girls,  and  encamped  within  two  or  three 
miles  of  Lebanon. 

On  the  19th  we  marched  all  day  in  a  drenching 
rain-storm  and  encamped  on  the  farm  of  Dr.  Jackson, 
a  brother  of  the  man  who  killed  Col.  Ellsworth  at 


50  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Alexandria,  Va.,  in  the  summer  of  1861.  The 
doctor  was  absent  under  military  arrest,  but  his 
hospitality  was  freely  drawn  upon  by  the  tired, 
wet  and  hungry  soldiers,  who  left  nothing  there 
next  morning  that  could  be  drunk,  eaten  or  carried 
away. 

On  the  24th  we  passed  through  Bardstown  and 
on  the  25th  arrived  at  Louisville  about  3  P.  M.,  and 
were  received  with  most  enthusiastic  welcome.  The 
sidewalks  were  full  of  loyal  men  and  flags  were 
waved  to  us  from  windows  and  porches  as  we  gaily 
marched  the  principal  streets  towards  the  river. 
At  the  National  Hotel  the  regiment  was  halted  and 
faced  to  the  front  while  a  deputation  of  the  "Loyal 
Ladies  of  Louisville,"  came  out  and  presented  the 
beautiful  silk  banner  referred  to  in  a  preceding 
chapter.  After  a  brief  response  by  Col.  Van  Cleve 
our  march  was  resumed  and  we  went  on  board 
the  large  steamer  "Jacob  Strader"  at  the  levee. 

Meantime  on  the  6th,  Fort  Henry,  and  on  the 
16th,  Fort  Donelson,  had  been  captured  and  the 
way  was  now  open  to  Nashville  by  the  Ohio  and 
Cumberland  rivers. 

On  the  26th  our  baggage,  mules  and  wagons 
were  taken  aboard  at  Portland,  just  below  the  falls 
and  three  miles  from  Louisville  levee,  and  we  pro- 
ceeded down  the  river,  very  glad  of  the  change  from 
marching  to  sailing. 

On  the  28th  we  arrived  at  Smithfield,  where  we 
entered  the  Cumberland  and  passed  Fort  Donelson 
on  the  1st  of  March  and  Clarksville  on  the  2nd, 
arriving  at  Nashville  next  day.  On  the  4th  we  dis- 
embarked and  encamped  about  three  miles  out  of 


MILL  SPRINGS  TO  SHILOH.  51 

the  city  on  the  "Granny  White  Pike."  Here  we  had 
a  pleasant  and  healthy  camp  and  fine  spring 
weather.  Ample  supplies  of  clothing,  rations  and 
ammunition  were  issued  and  accumulated,  and  a 
good  many  of  our  sick  and  slightly  wounded,  who 
had  been  left  behind,  now  joined  us  for  duty. 

Meantime  arrangements  had  been  made  for  a 
junction  of  Buell's  and  Halleck's  forces  to  be  made 
near  the  great  bend  of  the  Tennessee  river ;  Savan- 
nah, on  the  right  bank,  being  finally  designated  by 
Gen.  Halleck  as  the  point. 

On  the  16th  of  March,  McCook's  division  of 
Buell's  army  commenced  the  march  towards  the 
appointed  rendezvous,  followed  in  order,  one  day 
apart,  by  those  of  Nelson,  Crittenden,  Wood  and 
Thomas.  Our  division  (Thomas')  having  had  a 
battle  already,  was  in  this  new  campaign  assigned 
to  the  rear  of  the  column,  and  marched  on  the 
20th,  passing  through  the  city  and  out  on  the 
Franklin  pike  some  eight  or  ten  miles.  On  the 
21st  we  passed  through  Franklin  and  camped  a 
few  miles  south  of  the  village,  remaining  there  the 
22nd.  On  the  23rd  we  moved  up  two  or  three 
miles  to  Spring  Hill,  and  here  we  found  the  road 
ahead  of  us  occupied  by  the  camps  and  trains  of 
the  preceding  divisions. 

The  bridge  over  Duck  River  at  Columbia  had 
been  destroyed.  The  river  was  at  flood  height, 
no  pontoons  or  other  bridge  material  was  avail- 
able, and  we  all  waited  six  days  for  the  water  to 
subside. 

On  the  29th  a  bridge  was  improvised,  and  a 
ford,  deep  and  rapid,  but  practicable  with  care, 


52  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

was  found,  and  the  crossing  was  commenced.  It 
was  slow  and  tedious  work,  and  it  was  not  until 
the  2nd  of  April  that  ours,  the  rear  division,  had 
a  clear  way  to  proceed.  On  the  4th  the  road 
ahead  of  us  was  so  obstructed  with  the  trains  of 
the  other  divisions  that  we  remained  in  camp;  it 
was  raining  heavily  all  day  and  night. 

On  this  day  General  Grant  telegraphed  in  reply 
to  Nelson's  message  of  the  3rd  that  he  could  be  at 
Savannah  with  his  division  on  the  5th,  that  he 
(Nelson)  need  not  hasten  his  march,  as  transports 
to  convey  him  to  Pittsburg  Landing  would  not 
be  ready  before  the  8th.  (  Van  Home's  History, 
Army  of  Cumberland,  Vol.  1,  page  103.) 

The  rain  ceased  on  the  oth,  and  we  marched 
about  twelve  miles,  keeping  close  up  to  the  column 
leading  us.  Next  day,  the  6th,  the  troops  ahead 
of  us  seemed  to  be  showing  more  speed,  and  we 
began  to  pass  the  wagon  trains  as  we  overtook 
them,  instead  of  keeping  behind  them  as  we  had 
been  doing;  so,  notwithstanding  the  bad  condition 
of  the  roads  and  frequent  detours  to  pass  around 
the  stalled  wagon  trains,  we  marched  twenty-two 
miles  before  dark.  During  the  afternoon,  whenever 
we  halted  to  rest,  we  could  hear  the  rumbling  of 
the  cannonade  in  the  distant  west,  and  we  knew 
that  a  great  battle  was  in  progress.  About  sunset 
it  commenced  to  rain  again,  and  speedily  grew  so 
dark  that  a  man  in  the  column  could  scarcely  see 
his  file  leader  within  arm's  reach.  Still  we  tramped 
on,  tired,  cold,  wet  and  hungry,  until  about  eleven 
o'clock,  when  our  brigade  was  turned  into  a  soft 
plowed  cotton  field,  to  spend  the  rest  of  the  night. 


MILL  SPRINGS  TO  SHILOH.  53 

The  situation  here  would  have  been  utterly  forlorn 
had  it  not  been  enlivened  by  the  order  at  midnight 
to  "cook  three  days'  rations  and  be  ready  to 
march  at  4  o'clock  A.  M."  As  it  rained  all  night, 
the  fence  rails  were  laid  in  the  mud  for  bedding  or 
''standing  room";  no  other  fuel  was  available, 
and  the  rations  were  in  the  wagons,  miles  behind 
us.  So  the  cooking  was  omitted,  but  we  were 
ready  and  glad  to  march  at  daybreak. 

The  halts  on  the  7th  were  few  and  short,  but 
our  progress,  in  the  wretched  condition  of  the 
road,  was  slow  and  tedious,  though  we  marched 
towards  the  sound  of  the  guns  all  day.  We 
arrived  at  Savannah  in  the  afternoon  of  the  8th, 
to  spend  another  night  in  the  rain  without  shelter, 
but  had  time  before  dark  to  select  a  grass  field 
for  our  bivouac  and  get  rails  and  other  firewood 
to  cook  and  sleep  by.  Here  we  heard  that  the 
field  of  Shiloh  had  been  won  and  was  held  by  our 
Union  forces,  so  we  rested  contentedly.  Next  morn- 
ing, April  9th,  steamers  came  to  Savannah  for  us, 
and  embarking,  we  were  taken  up  to  Pittsburg 
Landing,  and  at  noon  stacked  arms  and  rested  on 
the  battle  field.  The  weather  had  cleared  up,  and 
though  our  wagons  and  tents  did  not  arrive  for 
several  days,  we  were  comfortable  enough  without 
them.  The  burial  of  the  dead  and  collection  of  the 
wounded  now  fully  occupied  a  large  portion  of  our 
men  for  two  or  three  days. 

The  official  reports  state  the  Union  loss  at  1,754 
killed,  8,408  wounded  and  2,885  captured  or  miss- 
ing; and  the  Confederate  loss  at  1,728  killed, 
8,012  wounded  and  959  missing.  Of  the  missing 


54  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

many  were  undoubtedly  killed  or  wounded ;  so  we 
had  to  perform  the  burial  of  about  4,000  men, 
gathering  them  from  every  part  of  the  battle  field. 
Some  lay  where  the}'  had  first  fallen,  others  lived 
long  enough  to  crawl  to  some  near-by  thicket  of 
gully,  for  protection  or  for  water;  some  lay  in 
attitudes  of  rest,  their  faces  showing  nothing  of 
suffering  or  fear,  others  had  evidently  died  in  great 
agony.  Some  were  identified  by  comrades,  and  of 
such  the  graves  were  rudely  marked ;  but  many  of 
our  dead  and  nearly  all  the  Confederates  were  un- 
known and  unrecognized.  They  were  laid  side  by 
side  in  long  shallow  pits  and  were  covered,  a 
hundred  or  more,  in  one  grave.  Many  of  the 
wounded  had  been  able  to  find  their  own  way  to 
the  field  hospitals,  but  several  thousand  of  them 
were  taken  up  on  the  field  and  carried  off  on 
stretchers  or  in  ambulances.  Some  of  these  were 
not  found  until  two  or  three  days  after  the  battle. 

All  of  this  was  very  sad  business ;  none  who 
participated  in  it  or  witnessed  it,  will  ever  forget  it. 

Men  can,  in  the  enthusiasm  and  excitement  of 
battle,  see  and  take  part  in  the  murderous  work 
without  realizing  how  horrible  it  is,  but  to  go  over 
the  field  the  day  afterwards,  and  in  cool  blood  to 
gather  up  the  mangled  and  suffering  victims,  gives 
one  a  life-long  impression  of  the  cruelty  of  war 
and  of  its  pitiful  waste  of  human  life. 

After  two  or  three  days  of  this  we  moved  out 
from  the  battle  field  towards  Corinth  five  or  six 
miles,  and  when  our  trains  arrived  established  our- 
selves in  camp-  again,  in  a  pleasant  gravelly  field 
with  shade  and  spring  water. 


MILL  SPRINGS  TO  SHILOH.  55 

Here  Col.  Van  Cleve  was  promoted  to  Brigadier 
General  and  mustered  out  of  the  regiment,  Lieut. 
Col.  George  was  promoted  to  Colonel,  Maj.  Wilkin 
to  Lieutenant  Colonel  and  Capt.  Bishop  to  Major; 
all  their  commissions  dated  March  21st,  1862. 

Gen.  Thomas  having  been  assigned  to  command 
a  corps  of  several  divisions,  Brig.  Gen.  T.  W. 
Sherman  assumed  command  vice  Thomas  of  our 
division,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Wilkin  was  detailed  as 
Inspector  General  at  his  headquarters.  He  was  on 
detached  service  thereafter  most  of  the  time  until 
he  was  mustered  out  of  the  regiment  August  26th, 
1862,  to  become  Colonel  of  the  9th  Minnesota 
volunteers. 

At  this  camp  our  band  was  mustered  out  on  the 
24th  of  April,  by  order  of  Gen.  Buell,  and  the  men 
went  home  leaving  mOvSt  of  their  instruments  there 
in  the  woods.  The  band  had  been  an  agreeable 
and  much  appreciated  institution  in  our  permanent 
camps,  but  in  the  hard  marches  of  a  long  campaign 
the  members  got  scattered  and  lost,  and  of  late  we 
had  had  but  little  music  from  them.  They  were 
good  musicians,  but  did  not  take  kindly  to  actual 
soldiering,  and  were  no  doubt  quite  willing  to  quit 
there. 

Gen.  Halleck  arrived  at  Shiloh  on  the  llth  of 
April,  and  after  reorganizing  the  two  armies  of  Buell 
and  Grant  and  reinforcing  them  by  the  army  of  the 
Mississippi,  under  Pope,  and  by  a  division  from 
Missouri  and  one  from  Arkansas,  commenced  the 
"seige  of  Corinth."  A  general  advance  and  intrench- 
ment  of  the  Union  lines  about  once  a  week,  with 
almost  daily  skirmishing  during  the  intervals, 


ofi  THK  STOKV  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

brought  us  at  the  end  of  May  into  such  position 
that  Corinth  had  to  be  defended  or  evacuated.  A 
voile}7  of  explosions  and  a  dense  cloud  of  smoke 
in  our  front  at  daybreak  on  the  30th  announced  the 
final  departure  of  the  Confederate  army,  which 
with  persistence  and  impudence  to  be  admired  had 
held  our  greatly  superior  force  at  bay  for  nearly  two 
months.  Our  lines  were  immediately  advanced,  but 
in  places  met  with  vigorous  resistance  from  the 
enemy's  picket  line,  which  had  been  left  in  position. 
These  men  were  mostly  captured  and  were  im- 
mensely disgusted  to  learn  that  they  had  been 
abandoned  to  such  a  fate.  This  narrative  is  not  the 
place  to  criticize  general  operations  of  armies,  but 
it  may  truthfully  and  properly  be  said,  that  we 
marched  into  the  vacated  and  desolate  streets  of 
Corinth  that  day  with  a  feeling  of  disgust  and 
humiliation  at  the  escape  of  the  enemy  that  we 
ought  to  have  captured,  or  at  least  have  broken 
up  and  defeated. 

A  show  of  pursuit  had  to  be  made,  and  we 
marched  on  after  the  retreating  enemy  for  several 
days,  passing  through  Danville  and  Rienzi.  On  the 
6th  our  regiment  "corduroyed"  about  four  miles 
of  swampy  road,  by  transferring  the  rail  fences 
from  both  sides  to  the  centre  of  the  track,  where 
they  were  speedily  sunk  out  of  sight  by  the  artil- 
lery and  heavily  loaded  supply  wagons. 

On  the  8th  we  halted  at  Boonville,  Miss.,  where 
we  remained  three  days.  '  Returning  we  reached 
our  old  camp  near  Corinth  on  the  13th,  having 
been  out  14  days  without  tents  or  baggage,  and 
so  far  as  we  could  see  had  accomplished  nothing. 


CORINTH  TO  LOUISVILLE.  57 

Next  day  we  moved  three  miles  east  from 
Corinth,  where  we  got  several  days  rest,  on  fresh 
clean  ground.  Some  reorganization  had  been  going 
on,  however,  in  our  absence,  and  we  found  Gen. 
Thomas  in  command  again  of  our  division,  and 
preparations  were  soon  completed  for  a  new  cam- 
paign. 


CHAPTER  V. 
CORINTH  TO  LOUISVILLE. 

Buell's  army  had  been  projected  eastward,  with 
Chattanooga  and  East  Tennessee  as  the  apparent 
objectives,  and  the  divisions  of  McCook,  Crittenden 
and  Nelson  were  already  well  advanced  in  that 
direction,  when,  on  the  22nd  of  June,  our  brigade 
broke  camp  and  commenced  the  march  along  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad,  repairing  it  as 
we  went  along,  reaching  luka  Springs  on  the  25th. 
The  other  two  brigades  of  our  division  were 
several  days'  march  in  advance  of  us,  and,  as  we 
moved  eastward,  troops  from  Grant's  army  fol- 
lowed, and  were  stationed  in  detachments  to 
guard  the  railroad  bridges  left  behind  us. 

At  luka  we  were  paid  off  for  two  months, 
chiefly  in  the  then  new  postal  currency,  which  we 
had  not  before  seen.  Col.  George  here  left  us  on 
"sick  leave." 

On  the  27th  our  march  eastward  was  resumed, 
and  our  regiment  arrived  on  the  29th  at  Tuscum- 
bia,  Ala.  We  encamped  in  an  open  field,  just  at 


58  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

the  edge  of  the  village,  and  near  a  remarkably 
copious  spring  of  pure  water.  Here  Gen.  Thomas' 
division  was  assembled  again,  and  on  the  4th  of 
July  we  had  a  national  salute  from  the  three  bat- 
teries and  a  grand  parade  of  twelve  regiments, 
after  which  some  appropriate  and  patriotic  ad- 
dresses were  made  by  Gov.  Alex.  Ramsey,  of  Min- 
nesota, Gens.  Steedman  and  McCook,  and  perhaps 
others. 

Gov.  Ramsey's  visit  at  this  time  and  place, 
though  brief,  gave  him  opportunity  to  see  and 
compare  the  2nd  Minnesota  regiment  with  those 
from  other  states,  and  he  was,  as  he  said,  quite 
satisfied  with  our  representation  of  the  state. 

Finding  ourselves  located  here  for  some  consid- 
erable time,  our  camp  was  put  in  good  order  and 
made  comfortable,  and  the  usual  course  of  company 
and  battalion  drill  and  instruction  was  instituted. 
The  "company  musicians,"  who  in  presence  of  the 
"band"  had  been  quite  overlooked,  if  not  forgot- 
ten, were  now  hunted  up  and  investigated.  Those 
who  were  not  in  fact  musicians  were  exchanged  in 
their  companies  for  other  men  who  were,  or  could 
become  such;  a  "principal  musician"  was  appoint- 
ed, bugles  and  fifes  and  drums  were  supplied  to 
them,  and  the  same  discipline  applied  to  them  that 
prevailed  with  the  other  men  of  the  regiment.  A 
few  weeks  of  faithful  instruction  and  practice  made 
them  quite  proficient  in  martial  music,  and  the 
"bugle  band"  of  the  2nd  Minnesota  received  a 
good  deal  of  attention  and  commendation  from 
the  other  regiments,  and  was  much  appreciated  by 
our  own  men. 


CORINTH  TO  LOUISVILLE.  59 

On  the  26th  of  July  our  pleasant  camp  here  was 
broken  up,  and  we  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  to 
Florence.  We  were  told  that  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson 
had  crossed  the  river  here  just  fifty  years  before, 
on  his  way  to  New  Orleans,  in  1812.  The  next 
day  being  Sunday,  the  usual  inspection  of  troops 
was  had,  and  this  over,  a  good  many  officers  and 
enlisted  men  of  the  several  regiments  availed  them- 
selves of  the  opportunity  to  attend  divine  service. 
The  Presbyterian  church  was  well  filled,  the  usual 
congregation  of  resident  women  and  children  oc- 
cupying perhaps  one  third  of  the  seats.  The 
uniformed  visitors  were  courteously  received  and 
ushered  in,  mingling  with  the  regular  attendants 
wherever  there  might  be  room.  The  opening 
services  were  of  the  usual  character,  and  the  sing- 
ing was  heartily  joined  in  by  the  soldiers;  the 
scripture  readings  were  attentively  listened  to,  and 
all  heads  were  reverently  bowed  when  the  vener- 
able minister  said  "let  us  pray."  The  prayer,  we 
were  afterwards  told,  was  the  formal  one  prescribed 
by  the  Presbyterian  church  authority  of  the  South, 
and  contained  an  invocation  of  the  divine  blessing 
upon  the  "President  of  the  Confederate  States  and 
"upon  all  in  authority  under  him,"  and  upon  the 
armies  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  a  direct  and 
earnest  appeal  that  confusion  and  defeat  might 
overwhelm  their  enemies,  who  had  invaded  their 
soil  and  threatened  their  institutions  and  their 
liberties.  This  had  not  been  generally  expected  by 
the  visitors,  and  it  produced  at  the  instant  quite 
an  appreciable  commotion.  A  variety  of  ejacula- 
tions, not  in  the  usual  line  of  liturgical  responses, 


GO  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

were  heard  in  various  parts  of  the  house,  and  some 
got  up  and  walked  out  to  vent  their  indignation 
in  the  open  air.  Most  of  us  remained,  however, 
to  see  the  services  through.  The  prayer  ended,  the 
sermon  began;  a  simple,  earnest,  well  composed 
and  well  delivered  discourse,  interesting,  edifying 
and  every  way  unexceptional.  The  preacher  was 
himself  the  personification  of 'Christian  grace  and 
dignity  in  the  pulpit,  and  we  were  soon  in  the 
mood  to  ignore,  if  we  could  not  forgive  or  forget, 
the  offensive  prayer.  He  had  probably  half  com- 
pleted his  discourse  when  the  tramp  of  marching 
men  was  heard  coming  down  the  main  aisle,  and 
a  squad  of  the  provost  guard  "halted"  and 
"fronted"  at  the  altar  before  the  minister.  A 
colonel  of  infantry  led  the  detachment,  and  now 
he  interrupted  the  preacher,  charged  him  with 
insulting  the  uniform  of  the  United  States  and 
those  who  wore  it,  in  addressing  a  disloyal  peti- 
tion to  the  Almighty  in  their  presence,  and 
commanded  him  to  come  down  and  surrender  to 
arrest.  "  The  minister  gracefully  bo\ved  in  compli- 
ance, and,  closing  his  sermon  book,  came  down 
and  said  he  was  "at  your  service,  sir."  Now  the 
ladies  interposed,  some  with  tears  and  pleadings, 
and  some  with  sneers  and  taunts  at  the  imposing 
show  of  armed  men  in  a  peaceful  church  where 
only  women  and  children  were  present  to  protest, 
and  some  fainted,  while  the  colonel  marched  his 
guard  and  prisoner  out  and  to  headquarters.  The 
women  then  appealed  to  those  of  us  who  remained. 
They  were  assured  that  their  pastor  was  not  led 
out  to  be  shot,  and  that  probably  no  physical 


CORINTH  TO  LOUISVILLE.  61 

harm  would  be  clone  to  him,  and  as  soon  as  we 
could  without  rudeness,  we  withdrew  to  discuss  in 
our  camp  the  experiences  and  events  of  the  morn- 
ing. The  propriety  of  the  arrest,  under  the  circum- 
stances, was  then  hotly  debated  among  those  who 
were  present,  and  the  discussion  has  been  renewed 
at  every  opportunity  since.  It  still  remains  as  one 
of  the  questions  left  unsettled  at  the  close  of  the 
war.  The  prisoner  was  sent  North  under  arrest, 
but  what  charges  were  formally  preferred,  or  what, 
if  any,  trial  or  punishment  he  may  have  had,  was 
never  known  to  us. 

On  Tuesday,  the  29th  of  July,  we  marched  again 
eastward ;  the  weather  was  hot  and  the  road 
dusty,  but  there  seemed  to  be  no  urgent  haste, 
and  our  progress  was  leisurely  and  comfortable. 
The  great  fields,  erewhile  in  cotton,  were  now  all 
in  corn,  and  afforded  plenty  of  roasting  ears  for 
the  soldiers  and  forage  for  the  mules.  The  darkies 
came  in  troops  from  every  plantation  as  we  passed, 
and  joined  the  "Lincum  Sogers,"  bringing  horses, 
mules,  cattle,  pigs,  poultry,  bedding  and  everything 
else  they  could  carry.  They  had  apparently  just 
begun  to  realize  what  the  war  meant  to  them, 
and  were  quite  ready  to  improve  the  opportunity 
of  going  out  from  bondage,  and  of  despoiling  their 
old  masters  as  they  went. 

As  we  approached  Athens  we  got  a  mail  from 
the  North,  and  in  it  some  one  received  a  copy  of  the 
song,  then  just  published,  entitled,  ''Kingdom 
Comin'."  Adjt.  S.  P.  Jennison  sang  it  in  camp 
that  evening  in  his  unctious  and  inimitable  style, 
while  the  men  of  the  regiment  joined  in  as  they 


Q2  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

learned  the  chorus,  and  a  crowd  of  black  faces 
grinning  with  delight  surrounded  them,  taking  in 
the  spirit  of  the  words  and  music,  so  appropriate 
to  the  situation  at  the  time.  In  a  day  or  two 
everybody  knew  and  was  singing  it,  and  the 
darkies  would  have  a  circus  over  it  every  evening, 
keeping  the  song  going  with  original  and  grotesque 
variations  until  they  were  suppressed  by  the  camp 
guard  at  "taps." 

On  the  3rd  of  August  we  marched  through 
Athens,  Tenn.  This  was  a  lovely  village,  and  had 
been  noted  for  being  the  last  place  in  the  state  to 
haul  down  the  Union  flag.  The  inhabitants,  how- 
ever, had  been  disgracefully  plundered  by  Turchin's 
brigade  of  Union  soldiers  a  short  time  before  our 
arrival,  and  they  regarded  our  approach  with 
some  apprehension,  probably;  for  which  they  were 
to  be  excused.  They  were  not  in  any  way  molested 
or  inconvenienced  by  our  presence,  except  from  the 
desertion  of  those  servants  who  had  not  already 
left  them. 

On  Monday,  the  5th,  our  brigade  commander, 
Gen.  Robert  L.  McCook,  was  murdered  by  a  gang  of 
guerillas.  He  was  sick  when  he  left  Tuscumbia,  and 
during  the  whole. march  was  unable  to  sit  up  or  be 
dressed.  He  had  a  bed  made  in  an  ambulance,  in 
which  it  was  his  custom  to  ride  far  enough  in  ad- 
vance of  the  troops  to  avoid  the  dust  which  always 
enveloped  the  marching  column.  On  this  day  the 
road  was  narrow  and  sinuous,  with  a  thick  growth 
of  small  trees  on  each  side.  His  ambulance,  at- 
tended by  two  or  three  staff  officers,  was  perhaps 
half  a  mile  ahead  of  the  column,  in  which  the  35th 


CORINTH  TO  LOUISVILLE.  63 

Ohio  was  the  leading  regiment.  Suddenly  a  party 
of  horsemen  appeared  in  the  road  before  him, 
and  the  ambulance  was  immediately  turned  and 
started  back  on  the  run.  The  party  pursued 
with  yells  and  firing  of  revolvers,  and,  riding  up 
on  each  side,  shot  him  through  the  body.  The 
horses  were  frightened  and  beyond  the  control  of 
the  driver,  who  said  the  General  had  ordered  him 
to  stop  before  the  fatal  shot  was  fired.  The  team 
was  forced  into  the  thicket  and  the  staff  officers, 
Capts.  Brooke  and  Miller,  were  captured  and 
hurried  away.  The  head  of  the  column  soon 
arrived,  and  the  General  was  taken  to  the  nearest 
house,  while  the  brigade  encamped  around  him. 
We  had  no  cavalry,  and  the  guerillas  could  not  be 
overtaken.  The  men  of  the  9th  Ohio  (McCook's 
own  regiment)  were  wild  with  rage,  and  in  revenge 
burned  every  building  in  the  neighborhood,  presum- 
ing that  the  murderers  were  residents  of  the  vicin- 
ity, as  they  probably  were. 

The  General  died  next  day  and  the  march  was 
at  once  resumed.  Col.  Ferdinand  Van  Derveer 
assumed  command  of  the  brigade,  which  he  very 
ably  administered  until  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  service,  about  two  years  later. 

On  the  7th  of  August  we  arrived  at  Winchester, 
Tenn.,  where  we  remained  twelve  days. 

About  this  time  Company  "C,"  of  the  3rd  Min- 
nesota regiment,  commanded  by  Capt.  Mills,  was 
attached  to  the  2nd  regiment.  This  company  was 
on  detached  duty  when  its  regiment  was  surrend- 
ered at  Murfreesboro,  July  13,  1862,  and  pending 
the  exchange  and  return  of  their  comrades  was  sent 


64  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

to  us  for  duty.  It  was  a  fine  company  of  soldiers, 
and  remained  with  us  several  weeks,  leaving  us  at 
Louisville  on  the  30th  of  September,  for  Minnesota. 
On  the  19th  of  August  we  moved  from  Win- 
chester to  Decherd,  and  thence  by  short  marches 
and  intermediate  halts  of  one  to  three  days  to 
Pelham  Gap,  thus  consuming  the  time  to  August 
31st,  while  Bragg's  army  were  making  their  way 
across  the  mountains  and  around  our  left  flank 
towards  Nashville. 

During  these  days  we  got  news  of  the  Indian 
outbreak  and  massacre  in  Minnesota,  which  cre- 
ated much  apprehension  and  excitement,  as  many  of 
our  men  had  families  and  friends  in  the  threatened 
frontier  counties.  Lieut.  Col.  Alex.  Wilkin  was  on 
the  26th  of  August  appointed  Colonel  of  the  9th 
Minnesota  regiment,  and  Maj.  J.  W.  Bishop  was 
commissioned  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  Capt.  J.  B. 
Davis,  of  Company  "F,"  Major  of  the  2nd  Minne- 
sota from  the  same  date.  Adjt.  S.  P.  Jennison, 
about  the  same  time,  was  appointed  Lieutenant 
Colonel  of  the  10th  Minnesota  regiment,  and  Lieut. 
Charles  F.  Meyer  took  the  vacated  place  as  Adju- 
tant of  the  2nd. 

On  the  1st  of  September  we  marched  to  Man- 
chester, and  our  wagon  trains  with  tents  and  bag- 
gage having  been  sent  via  Murfreesboro  to  Nash- 
ville, we  encamped  for  the  night  in  the  fair-ground 
buildings.  Next  day  resumed  the  march  towards 
Murfreesboro,  arriving  there  on  the  4th.  On  the 
3rd  we  encamped  early  in  the  day  and  sent  details 
into  a  large  melon  field  near  by,  who  captured 


CORINTH  TO  LOUISVILLE.  65 

several  hundred  large,  fine,  luscious  watermelons 
which,  after  our  hot  and  dusty  march,  were  much 
relished. 

Pursuing  our  northward  march  we  arrived  at 
Nashville  on  the  7th  and  encamped  in  the  edge  of 
the  city.  Most  of  our  army  had  already  crossed 
the  Cumberland,  but  it  was  given  out  that  our 
brigade  should  remain  at  Nashville,  and  we  did  for 
a  week,  while  our  divisions  north  of  the  river  were 
watching  Bragg's  movements.  By  the  14th  his 
army  was  all  across  the  Cumberland,  at  points 
higher  up  the  river  and  further  north  than  Nash- 
ville, and  the  race  for  Louisville  began.  Our  brigade 
left  Nashville  on  the  14th  and  crossing  the  river 
encamped  just  north  of  Edgefield.  We  had  received 
five  days  rations  of  flour,  coffee  and  sugar  only,  no 
clothing  or  shoes,  which  were  especially  needed.  In 
the  next  three  days  we  marched  on  the  hard,  dusty 
pike  seventy  miles  to  Bowling  Green.  Here,  on  the 
18th,  more  rations  of  flour  were  issued,  and  we 
crossed  the  Barren  river,  in  which  we  found  the  first 
supply  of  drinkable  water  since  leaving  the  Cum- 
berland. On  the  19th  we  marched  twenty-five  miles, 
and  on  the  20th  overtook  our  other  divisions, 
and  passing  through  their  camps,  came  up  to 
the  enemy's  rear  picket  line  near  Cave  City. 
Here  we  extended  our  line  of  battle  to  right 
and  left,  and  posted  our  picket  line  confront- 
ing theirs.  This  was  the  seventh  day  of  the  march 
which  was  without  a  parallel  in  our  experience 
thus  far.  It  was  the  dry  season  of  the  year,  and  in 
this  part  of  Kentucky  there  was  no  living  water, 
except  the  Barren  river,  between  the  Green  and 


66  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Cumberland  rivers.  The  farmers  had  depended  for 
a  scanty  supply  on  the  "sink-holes,"  which  were 
saucer-like  depressions  in  the  fields,  with  clay  sub- 
soil bottoms,  which  filled  with  water  in  winter  and 
spring,  but  at  this  season  were  nearly  exhausted  by 
evaporation.  Then  Bragg's  army  was  ahead  of  us, 
and  they  made  it  their  business  to  enrich  the  already 
viscid  water  with  dead  mules  and  camp  offal  of  all 
sorts,  so  it  could  not  be  drunk  and  could  hardly  be 
used  even  to  mix  our  "dough  gods."  These  were 
made  by  moistening  our  flour  on  a  rock  with  water, 
and  after  pounding  it  into  a  tough  dough,  it  was 
spun  into  a  long  roll,  about  an  inch  in  diameter, 
and  wound  spirally  around  a  ramrod  and  so  baked 
at  the  camp  fire.  These,  \vith  scanty  rations  of 
bacon,  constituted  a  decidedly  thin  diet  for  the  hard 
service  required  of  us.  We  had  no  tents  or  cook- 
ing utensils  or  baggage  of  an}'  sort  except  such  as 
were  carried  on  pack  mules  or  on  the  men's  backs, 
and  even  these  had  become  sadly  deficient,  as  we 
had  not  been  able  to  get  any  supplies  at  Nashville. 
Occasionally  we  got  apples  or  peaches  along  the 
road,  but  generally  the  trees  were  cleaned  by  the 
troops  ahead  of  us. 

On  this  occasion,  however,  we  found  in  our 
immediate  front  a  big  apple  orchard,  the  trees  all 
loaded  with  juicy  fruit.  The  enemy's  picket  line 
was  along  the  fence,  on  the  further  side,  and  their 
camps  not  far  beyond.  Our  picket  line  was  estab- 
lished along  the  fence  on  our  side  of  the  orchard, 
which  was  perhaps  eighty  rods  across.  Our  men 
began  to  get  over  the  fence  and  gather  the  apples, 
and  the  enemy's  pickets  fired  at  them ;  our  pickets 


CORINTH  TO  LOUISVILLE.  67 

in  turn  would  not  let  the  thirsty  rebels  get  any 
apples  out  of  their  side  of  the  orchard.  The  situa- 
tion speedily  became  known  in  the  camps,  and  our 
picket  line  was  in  a  few  minutes  reinforced  by 
several  hundred  of  the  boys,  who  "straggled"  out 
there  with  their  guns,  and  presently  our  line  was 
advanced  with  a  rush  to  the  further  side  of  the 
orchard.  The  enemy's  pickets  resisted  actively,  but 
retired  just  before  our  line  reached  them.  They 
made  an  effort  to  regain  their  fence,  but  our  boys 
wouldn't  give  it  up.  The  advance  troops  in  both 
armies  got  under  arms  upon  hearing  the  racket, 
but  the  affair  was  probably  reported  to  the  gen- 
erals as  a  "picket  skirmish"  of  no  consequence, 
and  all  became  quiet  again,  and  our  boys  had  the 
run  of  the  orchard  that  night.  Several  of  the  men 
were  wounded,  but  none  killed,  in  the  skirmish, 
which  was  entirely  an  affair  of  the  enlisted  men. 
It  looked  at  one  time,  however,  as  though  a 
general  fight  might  grow  out  of  it  right  there  and 
then,  and  we  were  all  more  than  willing  to  have 
it  so. 

This  evening  we  got  orders  to  cook  three  days' 
rations  and  prepare  for  a  battle  which  would 
probably  take  place  on  the  next  day. 

The  enemy,  however,  moved  on  early  next 
morning,  and  the  foot  race  began  again.  Our 
division  remained  in  camp  while  the  others  passed 
on  and  took  the  road  ahead  of  us.  On  the  22nd 
we  moved  camp  about  two  miles  to  a  place  near 
Cave  City,  where,  at  the  bottom  of  a  natural 
rocky  pit,  about  a  hundred  feet  deep,  an  under- 
ground stream  of  pure  water  came  to  the  light. 


68  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

A  steep  path  and  steps  led  down  to  it,  and  all  day 
it  was  alive  with  soldiers,  each  laden  with  as 
many  canteens  as  he  could  carry.  The  boys  spent 
the  day  mainly  in  filling  up  like  camels  with  that 
water,  in  preparation  for  resuming  the  march. 

On  the  23rd  we  started  again,  crossing  Green 
river  about  noon,  and  camped  on  Bacon's  Creek 
after  a  march  of  twenty  miles.  On  the  24th  we 
started  at  daybreak  and  marched  fast  all  day, 
making  thirty  miles,  and  halted  for  the  night  four 
or  five  miles  north  of  Elizabethtown. 

The  race  was  now  telling  on  the  footsore  rebels, 
also,  and  during  that  and  the  previous  day  we 
passed  their  exhausted  stragglers  to  the  number  of 
several  hundred,  leaving  them  to  be  gathered  up 
as  prisoners  by  our  rear  guard.  Bragg's  army 
was,  however,  ahead  of  us,  and  within  one  or 
two  days'  march  of  Louisville.  Next  day  we  left 
the  railroad  and  parallel  pike  and  went  straight 
to  the  Ohio  river,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Salt  river, 
making  the  twenty  miles  in  less  than  seven  hours, 
and  reaching  the  river  bank  about  noon,  a  tired, 
hungry,  ragged,  foot-sore  crowd.  "Thank  God  for 
the  Ohio  river  and  hard  tack!"  exclaimed  the 
champion  grumbler  of  the  regiment,  "I'll  never 
complain  again."  Here  were  steamers  loaded  with 
rations,  clothing  and  shoes,  and  waiting  to  carry 
us  to  Louisville,  about  thirty  miles  up  the  river. 
With  little  ceremony  the  boxes  of  hard  bread  and 
bacon  were  rolled  ashore  and  broken  open,  and, 
while  the  steamers  were  being  loaded  and  depart- 
ing with  other  troops,  our  brigade  rested  and  re- 
freshed and  waited  our  time.  Next  day  we  embarked 


THE  PERRYVILLE  CAMPAIGN.  69 

also,  and  soon  after  noon  were  at  Louisville, 
where  we  found  most  of  BuelPs  army  en- 
camped around  and  in  defence  of  the  city.  The 
next  four  days  were  occupied  in  resupplying  the 
troops  with  clothing,  rations,  ammunition  and 
equipment,  in  preparation  for  a  new  and  offensive 
campaign  for  the  recover}-  and  reoccupation  of 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 

During  this  time  orders  came  from  the  war 
department  relieving  Gen.  Buell,  and  assigning  the 
command  to  Gen.  Thomas;  these  orders  were  sus- 
pended by  request  of  Gen.  Thomas,  and  were  never 
put  into  effect. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
THE  PERRYVILLE  CAMPAIGN. 

While  in  Louisville,  in  the  last  week  in  September, 
some  important  changes  and  events  took  place  in 
the  organization  of  Buell's  army. 

Gen.  William  Nelson,  who  had  been  one  of  the 
most  efficient  division  commanders,  was  killed  on 
the  29th  at  the  Gait  House,  by  Gen.  Jefferson  C. 
Davis,  in  a  personal  quarrel.  The  army  was  the 
same  day  reorganized  into  three  corps;  the  first 
commanded  by  Gen.  A.  D.  McCook,  consisting  of 
the  divisions  of  Rousseau,  Sill  and  Jackson ;  the 
second  corps,  commanded  by  Maj.  Gen.  Crittenden, 
was  composed  of  the  divisions  of  Wood,  Van  Cleve 
and  Smith ;  and  the  third  corps  contained  the  divi- 
sions of  Schoepf,  Sheridan  and  Mitchell.  To  the 


70  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

command  of  this  corps  Gen.  Buell  assigned  "Maj. 
Gen,  C.  C.  Gilbert,"  by  orders  of  September  29th. 
Gilbert  was  a  Captain  in  the  1st  United  States 
infantry,  who  had  been  "appointed  a  Major  General 
of  volunteers,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Presi- 
dent," by  Gen.  Wright,  and  by  him  "assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  army  of  Kentucky."  This  appoint- 
ment, it  appears,  was  never  approved  by  the 
President,  though  a  commission  as  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral was  issued  to  him  on  the  25th  of  September. 

Gen.  Buell,  supposing  him  to  be  in  fact  a  Major 
General,  thus  placed  him  in  command  of  the  corps 
over  three  division  commanders  and  two  of  the 
brigade  commanders  who  were  actually  his  seniors 
in  rank.  Gilbert  in  turn,  it  is  said,  assigned  Capt. 
Gay  of  his  staff  to  the  command  of  the  brigade 
of  cavalry,  as  ''Chief  of  Cavalry,"  over  several 
colonels  and  field  officers  senior  to  him. 

These  unauthorized  honors  were  not  very 
modestly  borne  by  the  officers  so  distinguished,  and 
within  the  three  weeks  of  the  following  campaign,  a 
very  general  protest  against  them  was  developed 
throughout  the  corps  and  among  the  men  of  every 
grade  in  the  service.  Gen.  Buell  was  held  respon- 
sible for  them  and  so  shared  the  censure. 

Matters  were  getting  decidedly  unpleasant  all 
around,  when  on  the  23rd  of  October  "Brig.  Gen. 
C.  C.  Gilbert"  was  suddenly  relieved  by  Gen.  Buell 
from  the  command  of  the  third  corps  and  assigned  to 
the  tenth  division,  and  on  the  next  day  Gen.  Buell 
himself  was,  by  orders  from  Washington,  relieved 
from  the  command  of  the  army  and  department, 


THE  PERRYVILLE  CAMPAIGN.  71 

and  Maj.  Gen.  W.  S.  Rosecrans  was  assigned  to  it, 
the  actual  transfer  taking  place  on  the  30th. 

On  the  first  of  October  our  army,  rested,  reclothed 
and  resupplied,  moved  out  to  find  and  fight  the 
enemy  now  confronting  our  lines  about  Louisville. 
He  retired  as  we  advanced,  and  passing  consecutively 
through  Shepardsville,  Bardstown  and  Fredricks- 
burg,  we  overtook  his  rear  guard  near  Springfield, 
on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  and  our  regiment  being 
at  the  head  of  our  column,  we  had  a  continual 
skirmish  all  day,  both  armies  moving  about  seven- 
teen miles  towards  Perryville,  where  was  a  small 
stream  known  as  Chaplin  river.  The  country  we  had 
covered  during  the  past  week  was  almost  destitute 
of  water  and  probably  its  supposed  presence  in  the 
'vicinity  had  something  to  do  with  locating  the 
collision  of  the  armies  at  that  place.  On  the  7th 
we  halted  in  the  valley  of  Doctor's  creek,  a  branch 
of  Chaplin  river,  in  sight  of  and  about  three  miles 
east  of  the  village.  The  creek  was  nearly  dry,  only 
small  pools  here  and  there  to  be  found  in  the  bed, 
and  guards  were  placed  over  them  to  prevent  the 
watering  of  horses  and  mules  in  any  except  those 
reserved  for  that  purpose. 

On  the  8th  we  moved,  early  in  the  morning,  down 
the  valley  toward  Perryville  about  a  mile,  in  search 
of  water,  and  bivouacked  as  before,  having  no  tents 
with  us.  McCook's  corps  was  on  the  left  of  our  gen- 
eral line;  and  about  noon  we  heard  musketry,  and 
later  artillery  firing  in  his  front.  No  order  or  inform- 
ation came  to  us;  however,  and  about  four  o'clock, 
our  scant}'  supply  of  water  having  again  given  out, 
a  company  was  detailed  from  each  regiment  of  our 


72  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

division,  and  carrying  all  the  canteens  of  their  reg- 
iments, they  were  sent,  in  command  of  Lieut.  Col. 
Bishop,  to  look  for  a  fresh  supply  further  down  the 
valley  to  the  left.  As  we  pursued  our  quest  we 
approached  the  firing  and  finally  found  a  pool  and 
filled  our  canteens  in  full  sight  of  the  battle  field. 
One  of  the  enemy's  batteries  was  within  easy  range 
of  us,  but  was  too  busy  entertaining  their  opponents 
to  pay  any  attention  to  us.  We  watched  the  battle 
a  few  minutes  and  hurried  back  to  our  division 
wondering  why  the  whole  army,  and  especial!}' 
why  our  division,  was  not  taking  any  interest  or 
part  in  it.  Soon  after  our  return,  and  while  the 
canteens  were  being  distributed,  our  brigade  was 
ordered  to  McCook's  relief,  and  moving  about  half 
a  mile  to  the  left  we  were  posted  in  a  strip  of 
woods,  on  the  right  of  his  line,  our  regiment  so  far 
back  in  the  trees  that  we  could  see  nothing  of  what 
was  going  on  in  the  front  but  not  so  far  back  as  to 
be  out  of  reach  of  the  enemy's  artillery,  which  now 
and  then  landed  a  shell  among  us.  We  were,  how- 
ever, in  this  position  for  a  few  minutes  in  imminent 
danger  from  a  line  of  our  own  men,  a  new  regiment, 
which  just  after  dark  was  moved  up  into  position  in 
the  woods  immediately  behind  us.  They  were  nerv- 
ously expecting  to  find  an  enemy  in  that  vicinity, 
and  were  just  ready  to  open  fire  at  the  first  indica- 
tion of  his  presence.  They  could  not  see  us  in  the 
gloom,  nor  we  them,  but  a  .prompt  and  vigorous  in- 
troduction of  the  two  regiments  to  each  other  by 
name  probably  saved  us  from  what  would  have  been 
a  sad  misfortune.  We  had  no  experience  in  the 
whole  war  more  startling  than  that  cocking  of 


THE  PERRYVILLE  CAMPAIGN.  73 

muskets  behind  us,  knowing  as  we  did,  that  they 
were  in  the  hands  of  friends  who  were  not  informed 
of  our  presence  in  front  of  them. 

The  battle  ended  with  the  daylight,  but  we  lay 
on  our  arms  in  position  all  night  and  most  of  the 
next  day,  going  forward  again  in  the  afternoon  to 
the  creek  valley  for  water,  and  there  spent  the  night. 

Sheridan's  and  Mitchell's  divisions  of  Gilbert's 
corps  had  got  into  collision  with  the  enemy's  left 
during  the  evening  of  the  7th,  in  getting  into 
position,  and  again  pending  McCook's  battle; 
though  separated  from  him  by  the  whole  width  of 
the  valley,  they  had  quite  a  fight  of  their  own, 
without,  however,  having  any  orders  from  com- 
petent authority  conforming  their  operations  to 
McCook's.  None  of  Crittenden's  corps  participated 
in  the  engagement  in  any  way. 

As  to  the  battle  of  Perryville,  it  was  at  the 
time  understood  that  Gen.  McCook  had  undertaken 
to  fight  it  out  with  his  corps  unaided,  and  failed 
to  accomplish  what  would  have  been  an  easy  task 
for  our  whole  army  had  all  been  invited  to  share 
in  it.  The  spectacle  of  his  single  corps  engaged  for 
four  hours  with  the  opposing  army  while  our 
division  lay  idly  within  sight  of  the  field,  and 
Crittenden's  corps  within  sound  of  the  guns,  is, 
even  at  this  distance,  an  astonishing  one.  It 
appears  from  the  official  reports  that  neither  Buell 
nor  Gilbert  knew  that  a  battle  was  going  on  until 
it  was  too  late  to  put  in  additional  troops  effect- 
ively, and  that  Gen.  Thomas,  who  commanded  on 
the  extreme  right,  knew  nothing  of  it  until  it  was 
all  over. 


74  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

He  had  heard  the  firing  at  a  distance,  and, 
sending  for  information  about  it,  was  told  that 
"McCook  was  making  a  reconnoisance." 

The  opportunity  to  crush  Bragg's  army  was 
thus  lost,  and  he  withdrew  it  next  day. 

Our  division,  now  commanded  by  Brig.  Gen.  A. 
Schoepf,  included  three  brigades  of  five  regiments 
each;  our  (the  third)  brigade  was  now  commanded 
by  Brig.  Gen.  J.  B.  Steedman,  and  comprised  the 
87th  Indiana  (recently  joined),  and  the  18th  U. 
S.,  2nd  Minnesota,  9th  Ohio  and  35th  Ohio 
remaining  in  it  from  its  first  organization. 

On  the  10th  we  moved  eastward  about  five 
miles,  passing  through  Perryville,  where  we  found 
every  house  filled  with  the  enemy's  wounded.  On 
the  12th  we  passed  Danville  and  Lancaster,  and 
on  the  13th  camped  on  Dick's  river  at  Crab 
Orchard.  Here  we  remained  a  week,  wrhile  Critten- 
den's  corps  pursued  the  enemy  southward  in  a 
fruitless  chase. 

During  our  stay  here  an  inspector  general  from 
corps  headquarters  dropped  in  one  day  unan- 
nounced, with  an  order  from  Maj.  Gen.  C.  C. 
Gilbert,  commanding,  to  inspect  the  2nd  Minnesota 
regiment.  The  regiment  was  always  ready  for 
inspection,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  column  was 
formed,  ranks  opened  and  the  ceremony  begun. 

Each  company  in  turn  and  the  band  was  critic- 
ally examined,  and  notations  made  of  all  details. 
As  to  the  condition  of  men  and  equipments  no 
fault  was  found  in  any  particular;  the  cartridge 
boxes  and  haversacks  were  all  filled,  and  the 
regiment  could  have  marched  on  ten  minutes' 


THE  PERRYVILLE  CAMPAIGN.  75 

notice  for  three  days  detached  service;  so  the 
inspector  truthfully  remarked.  The  captain  of  the 
right  company  (G)  was,  however,  sharply  repri- 
manded because  his  first  lieutenant  stood  in  front 
of  the  center  of  his  company  and  the  second 
lieutenant  in  front  of  the  left  files,  the  inspector 
telling  him  that  he  ought  to  know  that  these 
officers  should  stand  in  front  of  their  places  "in 
order  of  battle."  The  captain  replied  that  himself 
and  lieutenants  were  in  the  positions  prescribed  by 
the  army  regulations.  The  inspector  then  assumed 
to  place  him  under  arrest  "by  command  of  Maj. 
Gen.  Gilbert"  for  insolence  to  an  officer  of  the 
staff.  This  proceeding  was  overruled  by  the  regi- 
mental commander  then  present,  who  instructed 
the  inspector  that  the  captain's  reply  was  not 
an  insolent,  but  a  civil  and  correct  one;  that 
had  it  been  so  grossly  improper  as  to  justify 
arrest,  Gen.  Gilbert  had  not  ordered  it,  and 
the  inspector  himself  had  no  authority  to  make  it. 
The  inspector  took  his  leave  in  hot  anger,  saying 
that  we  should  hear  directly  from  Gen.  Gilbert 
himself. 

A  day  or  two  later  a  written  order  came  from 
corps  headquarters  for  the  arrest  of  the  captain  to 
await  charges  and  trial  as  soon  as  the  convenience 
of  the  service  would  permit.  This  order  was 
ignored,  and  next  day  the  inspector,  who  had 
made  it  his  business  to  watch  the  regiment  as  it 
passed  on  the  road,  informed  the  regimental  com- 
mander that  it  would  be  his  painful  duty  to  report 
to  Gen.  Gilbert  that  the  order  had  not  been 
obeyed.  What  might  have  come  of  all  this,  had 


76  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

not  the  corps  commander  been  so  soon  relieved  of 
his  high  rank  and  command,  can  only  be  con- 
jectured. 

On  the  20th  we  commenced  retracing  our  march, 
and  passing  successively  through  Danville,  Perry- 
ville,  Lebanon,  Campbellsville,  Green  River  and 
Cave  City,  arrived  at  Bowling  Green  on  the  2nd 
of  November. 

Gen  Rosecrans  assumed  command,  vice  Buell,  on 
the  30th  of  October. 

We  moved  again  on  the  6th  of  November,  and 
next  day  encamped  at  Mitchellville.  The  railroad 
tunnel  near  and  south  of  this  place  having  been 
obstructed  by  the  retreating  enemy,  all  army  sup- 
plies were  unloaded  from  the  trains  here  and  for- 
warded by  wagons  to  Gallatin  and  Nashville.  Our 
brigade  performed  this  work  here  until  the  12th, 
when  we  removed  to  the  tunnel,  and  for  a  change 
of  employment  spent  ten  days  in  guarding  and 
clearing  it  out. 

On  the  23rd  our  regiment,  with  the  35th  Ohio 
and  the  18th  U.  S.,  marched  for  Cunningham's 
ford,  on  the  Cumberland  river,  southeast  of  and  a 
few  miles  from  Gallatin,  Tenn.,  where  we  arrived 
and  encamped  on  the  25th.  We  remained  here 
four  weeks,  guarding  the  ford  and  making  oc- 
casional reconnoisances  about  the  vicinity.  We  did 
not,  however,  come  into  any  serious  collision  with 
the  enemy.  On  the  7th  of  December  a  Union 
brigade  of  new  regiments,  commanded  by  Col.  A. 
B.  Moore,  was  attacked  and  captured  by  the 
enemy's  forces,  under  John  H.  Morgan,  at  Harts- 
ville,  a  few  miles  farther  up  the  river.  On  the  22nd 


THE  PERRYVILLE  CAMPAIGN.  77 

we  were  ordered  back  to  Gallatin,  and  thence 
about  five  miles  southward  toward  Nashville. 
Heje  we  spent  Christmas,  and  were  ordered  back 
to  Gallatin  in  great  haste  on  the  26th. 

Our  brigade  spent  the  next  three  weeks  pleasantly 
encamped  near  the  village,  occupying  a  good  part  of 
our  time  in  battalion  drill  and  making  an  excursion 
into  the  country  now  and  then  for  forage  and  pro- 
visions. All  day  on  the  31st  of  December  and  on 
the  1st  of  January,  we  heard  the  rumbling  of  the 
cannonade  at  Stone's  river,  some  thirty  miles  away, 
and  were  glad  to  learn  next  day  of  the  Union 
victory  there. 

On  the  13th  our  brigade,  under  orders  to  join  the 
division  at  Murfreesboro,  marched  by  the  pike  some 
thirteen  miles  and  encamped  midway  between  Galla- 
tin and  Nashville.  Next  day  our  regiment  and  the 
87th  Indiana  were  again  ordered  back  to  Gallatin, 
and  returned  in  a  cold  winter  rain-storm  to  our 
camp  ground  vacated  the  previous  day,  and  here  we 
remained  two  weeks  more.  This  second  recall  to 
Gallatin  was  due,  as  was  the  first,  to  the  threatened 
attack  on  the  place  by  the  Confederate  Gen.  John 
H.  Morgan.  Indeed,  for  more  than  two  months, 
we  had  been  shuffled  from  place  to  place  to  meet 
him,  but  he  never  granted  us  an  interview. 

During  our  stay  at  Gallatin  the  President's  proc- 
lamation of  emancipation  was  promulgated,  to  take 
effect  January  1st,  1863,  and  hastened  the  complete 
desertion  by  the  negroes  in  that  vicinity,  of  their 
old  homes  and  masters. 

One  of  these  late  "contrabands,"  now  freed- 
men,  came  to  our  regimental  headquarters  with 


78  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

information,  that  at  a  point  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Cumberland  river,  a  few  miles  distant  from  our 
camp,  a  good  many  thousand  hogs  had  been  killed 
and  cured  in  hams  and  bacon  in  the  fall  of  1861, 
for  account  of  the  Confederate  government ;  that  on 
Buell's  approach  in  the  spring  of  1862,  the  meat 
had  been  transported  to  Nashville  and  thence  to  the 
South,  but  that  the  lard  in  barrels  had  been  buried ; 
that  he  helped  to  do  it  and  was  willing  to  guide  us 
to  the  place.  Next  morning,  Lieut.  Col.  Bishop, 
with  six  companies  of  the  2nd  Minnesota  and  a 
section  of  artillery,  went  after  the  lard  with  wagons 
to  bring  back  the  booty  if  successful.  A  march  of 
four  or  live  miles  brought  us  to  the  river,  which 
was  too  deep  to  ford,  and  the  swift  current  had 
destroyed  the  landing  so  that  although  we  found  a 
flat  scow,  that  had  been  used  as  a  ferry  boat,  it 
was  impossible  to  cross  the  wagons  or  artillery. 
Leaving  these  on  the  north  bank  with  one  company 
to  protect,  if  need  be,  our  return  crossing,  five 
companies  went  over  in  the  scow,  making  several 
trips  with  about  thirty  men  at  each  load,  and  after 
marching  about  a  mile  and  a  half  our  guide  pointed 
out  a  large  field,  and  said  "dar  it  is."  A  crop  of 
corn  had  been  grown  and  harvested  there  in 
1862,  but  on  probing  the  ground  near  the 
middle  of  the  field  with  our  ramrods,  we 
soon  located  the  lard  mine.  We  had  brought 
shovels,  and  the  crowd  of  darkeys  who  had  joined 
us,  some  from  camp  and  some  from  neighboring 
farms,  very  willingly  helped  to  resurrect  the  barrels 
which  were  buried  side  by  side  about  two  feet 
deep  in  long  continuous  graves.  Squads  were  sent 


THE  PERRYVILLE  CAMPAIGN.  79 

meantime  to  all  the  neighboring  farms,  who  "bor- 
rowed "  all  the  wagons,  carts,  mules,  horses  and  oxen 
that  could  be  found,  and  the  lard  barrels  were  con- 
veyed to  the  river  bank  as  expeditiously  as  possible. 

About  a  hundred  barrels  were  so  delivered,  when 
the  ground  became  so  soft  from  the  rain  which  was 
copiously  falling  that  further  transportation  out  of 
the  corn  field  was  impossible.  Returning  to  the 
river  we  recrossed  with  twent}'  or  thirty  barrels, 
which  were  boosted  up  the  north  bank,  loaded  into 
our  wagons,  taken  to  the  camp  and  distributed  to 
the  troops  and  hospitals. 

Lieut.  Waite  was  left  at  the  river  with  a  small 
detachment  to  load  the  remainder  of  the  barrels  into 
the  scow,  navigate  it  down  the  river  to  Nashville 
and  deliver  the  lard  to  the  depot  quartermaster 
there,  which  he  successfully  accomplished. 

This  excursion  served  to  break  the  monotony  of 
waiting  for  Morgan,  and  as  we  had  plenty  of  flour 
the  old  time  doughnuts  displaced  the  hard  tack  for 
a  day  or  two. 

On  the  29th  we  were  again  ordered  to  join  our 
division,  and,  boarding  a  railroad  train  at  Gallatin, 
succeeded  in  getting  to  Nashville  without  recall  or 
interruption. 

Our  wagons,  with  our  baggage,  tents,  etc.,  did 
not  reach  us  until  noon  on  the  30th.  On  the  31st 
we  encamped  eleven  miles  south  of  Nashville,  on 
the  Nolensville  pike,  and  under  the  orders  of  Brig. 
Gen.  James  B.  Steedman,  now  commanding  the 
division,  were  ready  for  a  new  and  we  hoped  more 
active  campaign. 


80  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

CHAPTER  VII. 
TRIUNE  AND  TULLAHOMA. 

On  the  1st  of  February  our  brigade  marched  in 
hot  haste  ten  or  twelve  miles,  over  the  rough, 
narrow,  dirt  roads  towards  Franklin,  to  encounter 
Wheeler's  brigade  of  Confederate  cavalry,  which  was 
reported  to  be  in  the  vicinity,  but  we  failed  to  find 
any  enemy,  and  after  a  day  of  hard  marching  we 
spent  a  cold  night  without  tents  or  shelter.  Next 
day  we  retraced  our  path  to  the  Nolensville  pike  and 
encamped  on  the  farm  of  Col.  Battle  of  the  20th 
Confederate  Tennessee  regiment,  near  Concord 
church,  and  about  twelve  miles  from  Nashville. 

This  20th  Tennessee  was  the  regiment  opposed  to 
ours  in  the  fight  across  the  fence  at  Mill  Springs, 
and  we  occupied  their  camp  and  tents  at  Beech 
Grove  the  two  days  succeeding  that  battle.  Col. 
Battle  was  now  with  his  regiment  in  Bragg's  army. 
His  wife  and  daughters  and  the  widow  of  his  son 
(who  was  killed,  a  Lieutenant  in  his  father's  regi- 
ment, at  Shiloh)  were  at  home.  We  encamped  our 
regiment  in  the  ample  lawn,  which,  shaded  with 
fine  large  trees  and  sloping  from  the  house  towards 
the  south,  was  as  pleasant  a  site  as  could  be  desired. 

Our  headquarter  tents  were  set  quite  near  the 
house  and  we  soon  became  acquainted  with  the 
ladies.  They  urgently  objected  to  our  encamping 
on  the  ground  we  had  selected,  they  deeming  any  of 
the  flat  wet  fields  farther  away  quite  good  enough 
for  us,  but  being  informed  of  our  interview  with  Col. 


TRIUNE  AND  TULLAHOMA.  81 

Battle  and  of  his  kind  hospitality  towards  us  a 
year  before,  and  being  reminded  that  if  we  did  not 
occupy  that  lovely  lawn  some  other,  and  no  doubt 
worse  regiment  would,  they  did  not  further  oppose 
us,  though  they  graciously  expressed  the  hope  that 
our  stay  would  be  short.  We  remained  here  a 
month,  however,  employing  our  time  in  various 
reconnoitering  and  foraging  expeditions  towards 
the  front,  which  always  developed  an  active  enemy 
within  a  few  miles. 

Two  or  three  days  after  our  arrival  here,  Capt. 
Curtis,  of  Gen.  Rosecrans'  staff*  made  a  thorough 
and  critical  inspection  of  the  regiment,  and  soon 
afterwards  a  complimentary  letter  was  received 
from  Department  Headquarters  which  referred  to 
the  inspection  and  greatly  pleased  the  men,  who 
well  deserved  it.  (See  appendix  No.  13.) 

Col.  George,  who  had  been  for  several  weeks 
physically  unfit  for  active  duty  and  exposure  to  the 
severe  winter  weather,  was  obliged  to  leave  us  here 
on  the  2nd  of  February,  going  to  Minnesota  for 
rest  and  treatment,  on  sixty  days  "sick  leave." 

On  the  15th  a  foraging  party  of  two  corporals 
and  twelve  men,  under  First  Sergt.  L.  N.  Holmes, 
all  of  Company  "H,"  went  out  to  the  front  three 
or  four  miles  for  corn.  They  were  loading  their 
wagons  from  a  large  and  well  filled  crib  when  they 
were  suddenly  surrounded  by  two  companies  of 
Confederate  cavalry,  numbering  about  125  men. 
The  cavalry  charged  down  upon  them  firing  their 

carbines  and  yelling  "surrender  you  d d  yanks." 

Our  boys  in  the  crib  did  not  think  it  necessary  to 
surrender,  but  commenced  firing  in  return  with 


82  THE  STORY  OK  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

deliberate  aim,  emptying  a  saddle  with  almost  every 
shot,  and  the  astonished  cavalry  soon  quit  yelling 
and  withdrew  out  of  range  for  consultation ;  then 

decided  that  they  had  had  enough  of  the  "d d 

yanks  "  and  disappeared  altogether.  Our  boys  filled 
their  wagons,  picked  up  three  of  the  wounded 
rebels  and  seven  riderless  horses  which  the  enemy 
had  left  in  the  field,  and  returned  safely  to  camp. 
Two  of  the  wounded  died  next  day.  Several  others, 
slightly  wounded,  got  awa}r  by  the  help  of  their 
companions. 

Col.  Van  Derveer,  commanding  the  brigade,  was 
much  elated  by  the  brave  conduct  of  the  2nd 
Minnesota  boys,  and  issued  a  special  order  compli- 
menting them  by  name.  (See  appendix  No.  14  ) 

General  Steedman,  commanding  the  division, 
thought  the  affair  sufficiently  creditable  to  "my 
command"  to  justify  a  special  report  by  telegraph 
to  department  headquarters,  describing  the  fight ; 
refraining,  however,  from  any  mention  of  the 
names  or  regiment  of  the  men  engaged.  (See 
appendix  No.  15. } 

Another  of  these  details  from  our  regiment 
brought  in  one  day  eight  army  wagon  loads  of 
fine  potatoes,  which  were  a  very  welcome  addition 
to  our  somewhat  too  regular  bill  of  fare. 

On  the  2nd  of  March  we  said  "good-by"  to 
our  friends,  the  ladies  of  the  Battle  family,  express- 
ing our  willingness  to  take  any  message  they 
might  wish  to  send  to  the  Colonel,  and  to  deliver 
it,  if  he  would  wait  somewhere  long  enough  to  get 
it,  "as  he  probably  wouldn't,"  and  in  return  we 


TRU-NE  AND  TULLAHOMA.  83 

were  invited  to  stop  and  see  them  as  we  returned 
northward,  if  we  had  time,  "as  we  probably 
wouldn't."  • 

We  marched  southward  about  15  miles  to 
Triune,  where  the  brigade  bivouacked  for  the  night 
and  remained  most  of  the  next  day. 

At  4  P.  M.,  on  the  3rd.  Lieut.  Col.  Bishop  was 
ordered  with  the  2nd  Minnesota  regiment,  a  section 
of  artillery  and  two  battalions  of  the  1st  East 
Tennessee  cavalry  to  move  southward  to  the  Har- 
peth  river  and  take  and  hold  the  ford  where  the 
Nolensville-Eagleville  pike  crossed  it,  and  to  there 
await  the  coming  of  the  brigade,  which  would  follow 
next  morning.  The  place  was  reached  about 
sunset;  the  rebel  pickets  were  driven  awav,  the 
infantry  and  artillery  were  posted  to  command  the 
ford,  and  one  battalion  of  the  cavalry  was  sent 
across  the  river  to  reconnoiter  the  neighboring 
territory.  They  soon  found  some  rebel  cavalry  in 
small  parties,  and  after  a  running  fight  returned 
towards  morning  with  some  prisoners.  General 
Steedman  came  up  in  the  morning  with  the  other 
regiments  of  the  brigade,  and,  crossing  the  river, 
we  found  and  attacked  a  party  of  the  enemy,  cap- 
turing 60  prisoners  and  300  horses  and  mules. 
Next  day  we  made  a  quick  march  of  eighteen 
miles  to  Chapel  Hill,  where  we  had  another  brush 
with  the  enemy,  routing  him  at  the  first  attack, 
then  returned  bv  another  road  six  or  seven  miles 

j 

and  bivouacked,  marching  next  day  back  to 
Triune,  with  our  booty  and  prisoners. 

On  the  7th  we  made  a  permanent  camp  about 
two  miles  north  of  Triune,  in  a  good  defensible 
position  with  plenty  of  Wood  and  water. 


84  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Triune    was    a    small    hamlet    about     midway 
between    Murfreesboro    and    Franklin.      Here    our 
division    was    assembled    and    the    first    regiment 
of  East    Tennessee    cavalry    was    attached    to    it, 
and  here  we  remained    more    than    three    months. 
Considerable    work    was    done    in    fortifying    the 
position,  large  details  being  made  from    the    regi- 
ments   in    turn  for  the  purpose.     The  detail    of   a 
hundred   men  from   our  regiment  quite    astonished 
the  Captain  of  Engineers   who    had  charge  of  the 
work,  by  doing  about  twice  as  much  as  had   been 
done    bv    any    previous    one.      He    profusely    com- 
plimented the  officers  and  men  for  their  efficiency, 
and    to    further    show    his    appreciation    of    their 
work,  he  invited  the  entire  detail  to  division   head- 
quarters to  receive  a  ration  of  whiskey.     Arriving 
there  he  was  embarrassed  to  find  that  the  commis- 
sary  had    none    to    issue,   and    he    was    trying   to 
frame  a  suitable  expression   of  his  regret,  when  it 
occurred    to    him    that    Gen.    Steedman,    who    was 
absent  at  the  time,  had   a  keg  of  the  juice  in  his 
tent.     Relieved  by  the  happy  thought,  he  got   out 
the  keg  and  a  little  tin  cup,  and   the  boys  formed 
in    single    file    around    the    headquarters    tents;   as 
they  passed  the  keg  each  one  received  his  ration,  and 
passing  around  the  tents  took  his  place  again  at 
the  foot  of  the  line.     When  the  keg  was  emptied 
some  fifteen  or  twenty  of  the  boys  were  still  in  line 
ready  for  their  third  ration;   most  of  them,   how- 
ever,   had    been    satisfied    with    the    second.      The 
Captain,  who  had  taken  a  ration  or  two  himself, 
was    very    sorry    there    was    not    enough    to    go 
around,   but  had  done  the  best  he  could    to    give 


TRIUNE  AND  TULLAHOMA.  85 

each  one  a  drink,  and  could  do  no  more.  The 
detachment  made  a  somewhat  boisterous  and  dis- 
orderly march  back  to  our  camp,  and  their  unusual 
hilarity  had  to  be  explained  by  the  officer  in 
charge.  It  was  said  that  the  Engineer  Officer  was 
prudently  absent  himself  when  Gen.  Steedman 
returned  to  find  the  keg  empty. 

On  the  25th  and  26th  of  March  our  brigade 
made  another  excursion  into  the  enemy's  territory 
south  of  Harpeth  river,  and  after  a  successful  skirm- 
ish loaded  our  train  with  forage  and  returned  to 
camp.  On  the  29th  of  March  we  received  Enfield 
rifles  to  replace  the  guns  of  various  kinds  and 
calibers  which  we  had  thus  far  used.  The  Enfields 
were  not  satisfactory,  but  the  change  was  some 
improvement. 

Gen.  J.  M.  Scofield  here  superseded  Steedman, 
as  division  commander,  and  gave  us  several  weeks 
of  pretty  active  exercise  in  brigade  maneuvers  and 
drill,  the  first  we  had  ever  had. 

Gen.  J.  M.  Brannan  relieved  Scofield  May  10th, 
and  continued  as  our  division  commander  until  the 
reorganization  of  the  army  after  Chicamauga. 

Our  bugle  band  had,  as  opportunity  was  afforded 
for  practice,  so  improved  their  time  that  we  had 
become  quite  proud  of  them,  and  having  some 
money  in  the  regimental  fund,  a  complete  set  of 
brass  instruments  was  ordered  from  Cincinnati 
and  arrived  on  the  8th  of  April.  Principal  musician 
R.  G.  Rhodes  was  announced  as  band  master,  and 
for  the  next  few  weeks  the  woods  about  the  camp 
were  full  of  practicing  musicians.  They  made  rapid 


86  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

progress,  and  before  we  left  Triune,  June  23rd,  our 
band  compared  well  with  any  in  the  division. 

Col.  George  returned  on  the  31st  of  March,  not 
physically  in  good  condition,  but  able  to  do  duty 
not  requiring  active  exercise. 

Brigade  exercises  were  continued  under  Gen. 
Brannan,  and  a  grand  review  of  the  troops  was  held 
on  the  5th  of  April. 

On  the  1st  of  May  we  were  supplied  with  the 
new  "shelter  tents"  or  "pup  tents,"  as  they  were 
called  by  the  men,  and  all  the  wall  and  bell  tents 
were  sent  back  to  Nashville,  except  those-  required 
by  the  brigade  and  regimental  headquarters  and  tor 
the  field  hospitals.  These  pup  tents  were  simple 
pieces  of  light  canvass,  each  about  the  size  of  an 
army  Hanket,  and  so  fitted  that  two  comrades  by 
buttoning  their  two  pieces  together  and  improvising 
some  simple  support,  could  have  a  comfortable 
shelter  from  rain  or  sun.  These  tents  were  to  be 
carried  by  the  men,  and  so  the  wagon  trains  were 
reduced  from  thirteen  wagons  to  three  for  each 
regiment ;  the  officers  of  each  company  being  allowed 
one  pack  mule  to  carry  their  baggage. 

On  the  4th  of  June  Gen.  Gordon  Granger  came  to 
Triune  to  inspect  the  position  and  the  troops  which 
had  come  under  his  command  as  part  of  the  "  right 
wing."  The  day  was  spent  in  brigade  and  division 
maneuvers  in  the  hot  sun,  with  little  rest  and  no 
food  or  \vater.  It  closed  with  a  grand  review,  after 
which  the  troops  were  marched  back  to  their  camps. 
Artillery  firing  had  been  heard  during  the  after- 
noon in  the  direction  of  Franklin,  and  when  our 
brigade  was  dismissed  from  the  review,  at  5 


TRIUNE  AND  TULLAHOMA.  87 

o'clock,  it  was  ordered  to  march  immediately  to 
Franklin.  Col.  Van  Derveer,  commanding  it,  gave 
us  thirty  minutes  in  camp  after  arriving  there  for 
supper.  During  this  interval  the  officers  of  the 
2nd  Minnesota  called  in  a  body  at  headquarters 
and  presented  a  spirited  and  beautiful  bay  mare  to 
Lieut.  Col.  Bishop,  who  had  recently  lost  his  horse 
by  overheating  in  the  field  exercises.  This  presenta- 
tion was  a  grateful  surprise  jto  him  at  the  time,  and 
and  will  be  gratefully  remembered  as  long  as 
he  lives.  She  proved  to  be  a  most  valuable  and 
intelligent  animal  and  became  a  great  pet  in  the 
regiment.  She  was  twice  shot  under  her  rider,  but 
served  until  the  final  muster  out  of  the  regiment  and 
died  in  the  Colonel's  care  some  fifteen  years  thereafter. 

We  marched  at  6  o'clock  for  Franklin,  fifteen 
miles  distant.  The  day  had  been  excessively  hot 
and  sultry,  but  now  the  sky  grew  black,  and, 
after  a  severe  thunder  storm,  it  settled  down  for  a 
steady,  heavy,  all-night  rain.  That  night's  march 
will  never  be  forgotten  by  the  men  of  Van  Derveer's 
brigade.  The  darkness  was  intense,  the  road  soft, 
slipperx-  and  so  uneven  that  some  of  the  men  were 
down  or  falling  all  the  time.  We  were  ten  hours 
in  making  the  march,  arriving  before  daybreak 
utterly  exhausted,  and  physically  and  mentally 
exasperated .  The  garrison  seemed  to  be  all  asleep. 
No  enemy  was  in  the  neighborhood,  and  we  lay 
down  in  a  lawn  in  the  village  to  wait  for  dawn. 
Our  field  officers  stretched  themselves  on  the  floor 
of  the  front  porch  of  the  spacious  mansion. 

A  little  before  sunrise  the  front  door  opened  and 
a  staff  officer  came  out,  and  waking  Col.  George 


88  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

with  his  foot,  told  him  that  the  presence  of  the 
regiment  on  the  premises  was  not  agreeable  to  the 
lady  owner,  and  requested  him  to  move  on  and 
out.  The  Colonel  had  a  talent  for  vigorous  and 
emphatic  profanit}r  upon  occasion,  and  he  did  his 
best  here;  but,  as  he  afterwards  acknowledged,  no 
man  could  do  justice  to  such  hospitality  as  that. 
The  officer  who  had  aroused  him  slunk  back  into 
the  house,  withered  and  abashed,  and  did  not 
appear  again  during  the  forenoon.  In  the  after- 
noon we  made  a  reconnoisance  in  search  of  the 
enemy,  but  found  none.  On  the  6th  we  returned 
to  our  camp  at  Triune. 

The  usual  round  of  guard  and  picket  duty,  bat- 
talion and  brigade  exercises,  was  resumed,  varied 
by  an  .occasional  march  to  Nashville  or  to  the  front 
for  supplies. 

On  the  23rd  we  broke  camp  on  an  hour's  notice, 
and  commenced  the  "Tullahoma  Campaign"; 
marching  southward  and  then  eastward,  in  all 
about  fifteen  miles,  over  a  rough  and  rocky  road, 
to  a  camp  near  Salem.  Here  it  commenced  raining, 
and  of  the  next  seventeen  days,  fourteen  were 
rainy.  Of  course  the  roads  and  country  soon 
became  almost  impassable,  and  the  soldiers  seldom 
had  dry  clothes  or  rations. 

On  the  24th  our  trains  moving  eastward  were 
threatened  from  the  south  by  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
and  Lieut.  Col.  Bishop,  with  four  companies  of  the 
regiment,  was  detailed  to '  keep  them  back.  We 
had  a  skirmish  fight  in  the  rain,  lasting  nearly  all 
day,  bivouacked  on  the  disputed  field  at  night,"  and 
rejoined  the  regiment  next  day.  Lieut.  Col.  Bishop 


TRIUNE  AND  TULLAHOMA.  89 

and  several  of  his  men  got  bullet  holes  in  their 
clothing,  but  no  more  serious  casualties;  the 
enemy,  firing  mostly  from  horseback,  did  not  aim 
with  much  precision.  On  the  29th  our  regiment 
had  another  all  day  skirmish  fight,  killing  several 
and  wounding  others  of  the  enemy.  Among  the 
killed  was  Col.  Starnes,  and  an  aid  to  Gen. 
Wheeler,  who  was  shot  while  carrying  a  dispatch 
from  his  chief.  After  he  fell  from  his  horse  he  was 
seen  to  tear  in  pieces  the  message,  but  it  was 
recovered,  put  together  and  read.  Only  one  man 
of  our  regiment  was  wounded. 

At  times,  when  we  had  forced  back  the  enemy's 
line  more  rapidly  than  they  approved,  they  opened 
on  us  with  artillery  to  check  our  advance.  The 
surgeon  of  the  regiment  on  our  right,  who  was 
riding  behind  the  advancing  line,  was  very  suddenly 
let  down  by  a  shell  from  the  enemy's  battery, 
which  entered  the  breast  and  exploded  in  the  body 
of  the  horse  without  hurting  the  doctor.  The  boys 
unmercifully  guyed  him  as  he  gathered  up  his 
saddle  and  went  to  the  rear. 

On  the  26th  we  had  a  rattling  skirmish  for  the 
possession  of  Hoover's  Gap.  The  enemy  gave  way 
for  us  as  we  advanced  rapidly  through  the  gap, 
and  although  they  did  a  good  deal  of  wild  firing, 
no  men  were  hurt  in  our  regiment. 

On  the  1st  of  July  we  drove  the  enemy's  picket 
line  into  and  through  Tullahoma,  to  find  that  his 
army  had  evacuated  the  place  during  the  previous 
night,  leaving  a  good  many  of  their  tents  standing, 
several  big  guns,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of 
stores.  On  the  2nd  we  reached  Elk  river,  finding 


90  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

it  at  flood  height  and  the  bridge  gone.  Our  regi- 
ment captured  one  party  of  eleven  prisoners,  and 
another  of  four. 

On  the  3rd  of  July  the  flood  had  subsided  a 
little  and  it  was  found  practicable  to  ford  the  stream 
by  the  aid  of  a  rope  stretched  across  to  keep  the 
men  from  being  carried  down  by  the  current.  Our 
brigade  stripped  to  the  skin  ;  the  knapsacks,  clothes, 
rations,  cartridge  boxes,  etc.,  making  a  bundle  of 
twenty-five  or  thirty  pounds,  were  carried  on  the 
bayonet,  the  gun  supported  by  one  hand  \vhile  the 
other  kept  a  grasp  on  the  rope,  as  the  men  in  single 
file  waded  the  stream  in  the  rushing  waters  up  to 
their  necks.  None  of  the  men  in  our  brigade  were 
drowned,  but  some  of  them  lost  their  bundles  in  the 
passage  and  landed  destitute  and  naked.  As  the 
flood  subsided  the  artillery  and  trains  began  to 
cross  and  a  bridge  was  improvised.  On  the  4-th  we 
heard  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  and  next  day  of 
the  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  both  events  being 
announced  in  general  orders,  and  honored  by 
national  salutes  by  the  artillery. 

The  enemy  had  now  disappeared  from  our 
vicinity,  and  as  it  was  nearly  impossible  to  move 
artillery  or  trains  we  rested  here  nine  days,  and  on 
the  18th  moved  to  Winchester,  where  we  remained 
four  weeks,  the  time  being  occupied  in  rebuilding 
the  railroads  behind  us  and  refitting  and  equipping 
for  the  next  advance.  Just  a  year  ago  we  were 
encamped  here  for  several  days,  and  we  now  felt 
quite  at  home  and  acquainted. 


JAMES  GEORGE,  COI.OXKL. 
March  21     18G2  to  June  29,  1SG4. 


THK  CAMPAIGN  AND  BATTLE  OF  CHICAMAUGA.        91 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE   CAMPAIGN   AND   BATTLE   OF 
CHICAMAUGA. 

On  the  16th  of  August  our  pleasant  camp  at 
Winchester  was  broken  up  and  we  marched  east- 
ward about  a  mile,  under  a  blazing  sun,  and  two 
miles  farther  in  a  terrific  thunderstorm ;  then  finding 
the  road  full  of  troops  and  trains  entitled  to  pre- 
cedence we  encamped.  Next  day  we  marched  three 
miles  farther,  reaching  the  foot  of  the  Cumberland 
mountain  range,  over  which  our  route  lay  to  reach 
the  Tennessee  river. 

Here  we  found  the  heavy  wagon  trains  toiling 
up  the  steep,  narrow,  tortuous  road,  ascending  the 
western  slope  of  che  mountain,  and  the  slow  prog- 
ress of  the  last  two  days  was  explained. 

On  the  18th  we  found  the  road  clear,  and  marched 
up  the  mountain  side  to  University  Place,  on  the 
summit,  where  we  spent  the  night.  Here  the  corner- 
stone of  a  magnificent  "to  be"  university  had  been 
laid  by  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Polk,  now  a  general  in  the 
Confederate  army.  An  endowment  of  three  million 
dollars  had  been  pledged,  and  the  foundations  of 
the  several  buildings  had  been  constructed,  when 
the  war  interrupted  the  enterprise  with  an  adjourn- 
ment "sine  die." 

On  the  19th  we  marched  down  the  eastern  slope 
of  the  mountain  range,  and  encamped  at  the  foot 
in  Sweden's  Cove,  remaining  there  the  20th. 


92  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Since  leaving  our  Winchester  camp  we  had  found 
plenty  of  green  corn,  and  the  "roasting  ears"  had 
made  a  considerable  item  in  our  subsistence. 

On  the  21st  we  moved  to  the  north  bank  of  the 
Tennessee  river,  at  the  mouth  of  Battle  Creek,  about 
six  miles  above  Bridgeport,  where  the  railroad 
bridge  had  been  destroyed,  and  was  being  rebuilt 
by  our  engineer  forces. 

The  river  here  was  broad  and  deep,  and  the 
enemy's  pickets  lined  the  south  bank.  They,  for  the 
first  few  days,  kept  popping  their  guns  at  our  men 
whenever  they  approached  the  river,  and  occasion- 
ally the  bullets  would  reach  our  camps,  but  we 
picketed  the  north  bank  with  better  rifles,  and 
after  a  competitive  trial  of  marksmanship,  the  men 
on  duty  came  to  an  agreement  to  save  their  ammu- 
nition, and  thereafter  amused  themselves  in  guying 
each  other  "  viva  voce."  The  men  of  both  armies, 
not  on  duty,  came  down  freely  to  bathe  on  their 
respective  sides  of  the  river,  and  soon  it  got  to  be 
a  common  practice  for  a  good  swimmer  or  two 
from  each  side  to  meet  in  mid  river  and  swap  lies, 
newspapers,  etc.,  while  the  pickets  kept  watch  to 
see  there  should  be  no  foul  play  or  breach  of 
confidence. 

Col.  George  rejoined  us  here  on  the  24th,  from  a 
long  absence  on  sick  leave,  and  left  us  again  on  the 
27th,  promising  to  be  back,  if  alive,  in  time  for  the 
expected  battle.  He  kept  his  promise,  returning  to 
the  regiment  on  the  18th  of  September,  the  day 
before  the  battle  of  Chicamauga.  Meanwhile 
Company  "F  V  of  our  regiment,  composed  mostly  of 
river  men  and  raftsmen  from  the  Lake  St.  Croix 


THE  CAMPAIGN  AND  BATTLE  OF  CHICAMAUGA.       93 

lumber  regions,  had  been  quietly  at  work  in  Battle 
Creek,  out  of  the  enemy's  sight,  constructing  rafts 
and  rude  scows,  on  which  four  of  our  companies 
effected  a  crossing  in  the  evening  of  the  29th,  and 
got  possession  of  the  south  shore.  The  enemy,  not 
expecting  an  effort  to  cross  here,  had  left  only  a 
few  men  to  watch  the  river,  not  enough  to  make 
any  serious  opposition.  By  noon  next  day  our 
entire  brigade  was  over,  and  the  two  other  bri- 
gades of  our  division  (Brannan's)  completed  the 
crossing  on  the  31st. 

Meantime  the  other  divisions  of  the  army  were 
crossing  simultaneously  at  several  points  above 
and  below  us,  and  our  trains  and  artillery  were 
sent  down  to  Bridgeport,  to  cross  on  the  new  bridge 
when  it  should  be  ready. 

On  the  first  day  of  September  we  moved  out 
about  three  miles  to  Graham's  Spring,  near  the  foot 
of  Raccoon  mountain,  and  near  the  monument 
marking  the  corner  of  the  three  states,  Alabama, 
Georgia  and  Tennessee. 

Near  this  camp  was  the  celebrated  "Nick  a  Jack  " 
or  Salt-petre  cave,  which  was  visited  and  explored 
by  hundreds  of  our  men  during  our  four  days'  en- 
campment here.  A  large  stream  of  pure  water 
issued  from  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  which  was 
about  twenty  feet  high  and  seventy  feet  wide. 
The  cave  had  been  explored,  it  was  said,  for  a 
distance  of  several  miles;  some  of  our  men,  in 
trying  to  verify  this,  got  lost,  and  with  consider- 
able difficulty  were  found  and  rescued,  after  spend- 
ing a  very  long  night,  as  they  said,  "in  the  bowels 
of  the  Confederacy." 


94  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Here  the  Confederate  government  had  made  an 
attempt,  with  some  success,  to  obtain  salt-petre  for 
the  manufacture  of  gunpowder.  On  the  5th,  our 
train  and  artillery  having  arrived,  we  marched  up 
the  "Nick  a  Jack  trace,"  as  the  ravine  is  called  by 
which  the  road  ascends  the  western  slope  of 
Raccoon  mountain.  After  making  four  or  five 
miles  it  was  found  that  the  road  needed  so  much 
repair  and  the  wagons  so  much  help  that  it  would 
be  impossible  to  get  the  trains  to  the  summit  that 
night,  and  we  were  obliged  to  go  back  two  miles 
to  find  water  for  a  camp.  On  the  6th  we  com- 
pleted the  ascent  and  encamped  on  the  summit, 
and  on  the  7th  descended  the  eastern  slope  into 
Lookout,  or  Will's  valley,  and  encamped  at  Boiling 
Springs,  about  five  miles  below  Trenton. 

Here  we  remained  two  clays,  learning  on  the 
9th  that  Bragg  had  evacuated  Chattanooga  on 
the  8th  and  was  retiring  southward. 

On  the  10th  we  marched  through  Trenton  and 
up  the  Lookout  valley  about  thirteen  miles.  On 
the  llth  we  started  in  the  morning,  but  having 
the  road  ahead  of  us  full  of  artillery  and  trains 
toiling  up  the  mountain,  we  only  made  three  miles 
and  halted  at  the  foot  of  a  long  steep  grade. 
Orders  reached  us  at  7  P.  M.  to  start  at  once  and 
pass  the  trains,  as  the  enemy  had  been  encountered 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  mountain,  but  these 
orders  were  soon  countermanded,  and  we  bivouacked 
again. 

Next  morning  we  started  at  5  o'clock,  crossed 
the  mountain  .and  halted  in  Chattanooga  valley 
at  10  A.  M.  At  2  P.  M.  made  a  reconnoisance, 


THE  CAMPAIGN  AND  BATTLE  OF  CHICAMAUGA.        95 

returning  to  our  position  at  7  o'clock.  Here  we 
remained  the  13th  and  14th,  while  troops  and 
trains  were  moving  around  and  behind  us  in  a 
way  that  then  seemed  mysterious  and  without  any 
definite  or  intelligible  purpose.  On  the  15th  our 
brigade  moved  to  Lee's  Mill,  on  or  near  the 
Chicamauga  creek,  and  bivouacked  in  line  of  battle 
in  apparent  preparatiou  for  a  fight  right  there. 
We  remained  there  the  16th,  "standing  to  arms" 
at  four  o'clock  on  the  mornings  of  the  16th  and 
17th,  in  expectation  of  an  early  attack. 

On  the  17th  the  heavy  clouds  of  dust  extending 
along  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Chicamauga  valley 
showed  us  the  enemy's  columns  were  in  motion 
northward,  and  about  8  o'clock  we  "took  arms" 
and  commenced  our  march  "by  the  left  flank" 
abreast  of,  and  less  than  a  mile  distant  from,  the 
enemy's  parallel  march  by  his  "right  flank." 

Our  progress  was  slow,  the  day  hot  and  the 
road  ankle  deep  with  fine  dust,  with  which  the 
tramping  feet  filled  the  air  as  the  column  moved 
along.  At  ten  o'clock  we  had  got  about  three 
miles  from  our  starting  point,  when  some  scatter- 
ing musket  shots  were  heard  in  our  rear,  and 
presently  an  order  was  received  from  Col.  Van 
Derveer,  commanding  our  brigade,  for  the  2nd 
Minnesota  to  return  as  far  as  Pond  Springs,  see 
what  was  the  matter  and  rejoin  the  brigade.  We 
unslung  and  piled  our  knapsacks,  leaving  a  few 
men  with  them,  and  in  less  than  an  hour  retraced 
nearly  the  whole  forenoon's  march.  As  we  came 
in  sight  of  the  springs  the  two  leading  companies 
were  deployed  forward,  and  men  were  detailed  from 


96  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

each  company  to  take  all  the  canteens  and  fill 
them  at  the  springs  as  promptly  as  possible  upon 
our  arrival  there.  Approaching  the  place  we  found 
the  springs  in  possession  of  a  detachment  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  who  were  resting  in  unsuspicious 
comfort,  many  of  them  dismounted.  They  had 
been  worrying  our  trains,  and  being  repulsed  by 
the  guards,  had  halted  here  for  reinforcements. 
They  were  promptly  attacked  and  routed  by  our 
advance  skirmishers,  and  while  we  halted,  main- 
taining ranks,  the  canteens  were  filled  and  dis- 
tributed. Then  we  reversed  our  march,  returning 
by  the  left  flank  to  our  brigade,  which  had  not 
moved  during  our  absence,  and  soon  bivouacked 
for  the  night. 

The  light  from  the  enemy's  camp  fires  was 
visible  all  night  to  the  eastward,  and  we  slept 
"on  our  arms,"  ready  to  be  attacked  if  he  so 
pleased. 

All  day  a  feverish,  mysterious,  nervous  forebod- 
ing had  seemed  to  pervade  the  camp;  every  one 
was  conscious  of  it  and  apprehensive  that  every- 
thing was  not  in  order  as  it  should  be.  The  con- 
fused and  halting  marches,  of  which  the  purpose 
or  destination  was  not  apparent,  were  not  un- 
observed by  the  men,  and  regimental  and  brigade 
officers  had  little,  if  any,  better  knowledge  of  the 
situation  than  their  men  had. 

We    remained  here  all  day  on    the    18th,   while 
troops  and  artillery  and  trains  were  moving  behind  ' 
us  to  the  left  or  northward,  and  about  5  P.  M.  we 
joined  in  the  procession.     Old   soldiers  will  remem- 
ber that  a  night  march  of  unusual  fatigue  generally 


THE  CAMPAIGN  AND  BATTLE  OF  CHICAMAUGA.        97 

commenced  just  before  supper.  On  this  occasion 
we  moved  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  per  hour 
through  the  whole  night,  halting  every  few  rods 
just  long  enough  to  get  stiff  and  cold,  but 
never  long  enough  to  build  fires  and  get  warm. 
Many  of  the  men  would  fall  asleep,  sinking  down 
in  the  road  and  some  standing  on  their  feet,  but 
strict  orders  were  given  not  to  leave  the  column, 
and  to  follow  closely  those  leading  us.  As  the  day 
began  to  dawn  we  could  see  the  brigades  and 
batteries  leaving  the  road  from  time  to  time  and 
moving  off  in  line  of  battle  into  the  woods  to  the 
eastward  towards  the  Chicamauga  creek,  and  we 
knew  that  the  army  was  taking  position  for  the 
great  contest  so  long  anticipated.  We  could  now 
understand  how  this  had  been  going  on  during 
the  night,  and  how  slow  and  difficult  had  been  the 
construction  of  the  grand  line  of  battle  in  the 
darkness,  and  our  tedious  and  halting  progress 
was  so  accounted  for. 

As  we  began  to  understand  the  situation  our 
vague  apprehensions  gave  place  to  an  active 
and  intelligent  interest  in  the  preparations 
being  made,  and  we  braced  up  and  awaited  our 
time  for  assignment  to  position.  We  had  been  all 
night  in  moving  less  than  five  miles,  were  now  on 
the  Lafayette-Chattanooga  road,  and  had  passed 
in  the  darkness  near  Gen.  Rosecrans'  headquarters 
at  the  Widow  Glenn's  house.  At  8  o'clock  our 
brigade  halted,  filed  out  of  the  road  near  Kelly's 
house  and  stacked  arms,  while  the  word  was 
passed  down  the  line  "twenty  minutes  for  break- 
fast." In  five  minutes  hundreds  of  little  fires  were 


98  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

kindled  and  hundreds  of  little  coffee  cans  were  filled 
with  water  from  the  canteens  and  set  to  boil  by 
one  of  each  pair  of  chums,  while  the  other  sliced 
and  broiled  the  bacon;  in  ten  minutes  the  boiling 
coffee  was  lifted  off,  the  luscious  bacon  was  nicely 
browned,  and  the  ever  toothsome  hardtack  had 
been  moistened  and  toasted,  and — here  comes  an 
aid  at  a  furious  gallop  down  the  dusty  road;  a 
brief  order  delivered  by  him  to  Col.  Van  Derveer, 
our  brigade  commander,  and  each  regiment  gets 
orders  to  "take  arms"  and  march  immediately. 
Of  course  some  urgent  and  peremptory  necessity 
was  supposed,  but  how  could  we  leave  that  break- 
fast untasted,  even  for  love  of  country  or  of  glory. 
The  bugle  call  to  "attention"  was  drowned  in  a 
tempest  of  curses,  but  the  order  was  promptly 
obeyed  nevertheless,  arms  were  taken,  and  we  filed 
out  into  the  road,  now  clear,  and  briskly  moved 
off  northward  in  a  cloud  of  choking  dust.  "Dread- 
ful! dreadful!"  exclaimed  our  venerable  chaplain, 
as  the  air  grew  sulphurous  with  profanity.  "But 
think,"  said  one  near  him,  "how  dreadfuller  it 
would  be  to  go  into  battle  and  get  killed  with  all 
those  curses  in  'em."  "Colonel,"  said  one  of  these 
men  a  quarter  of  a  century  later,  "d'ye  moind 
that  breakfast  we  didn't  ate  at  Chicamauga? 
Be  jabers,  oi  can  taste  it  yet." 

After    making    about    a    mile    we    halted    near 

McDaniel's    house,    whence    a    road,     or    rather    a 

narrow  wagon  track,  leads  through  the   open   oak 

.woods  eastward  to  Reed's  bridge  and  ford  on  the 

Chicamauga  creek. 


THE  CAMPAIGN  AND  BATTLE  OF  CHICAMAUGA.       99 

It  may  be  here  explained  that  the  extreme  left  of 
our  general  line  of  battle  rested  in  the  woods,  about 
opposite  the  midway  point  between  Kelly's  and 
McDaniel's  houses,  and  the  position  of  the  line, 
extending  southward  and  facing  eastward,  was 
about  midway  between  and  parallel  to  the  road 
and  the  creek.  So  as  we  faced  the  eastward  and 
marched  in  brigade  order  of  battle  along  the  Reed's 
bridge  road,  we  were  detached  from  and  nearly  half 
a  mile  to  the  left  of  the  left  division  (Baird's)  of 
our  established  line.  Our  orders  were  said  to  have 
been  given  on  information  by  Col.  McCook,  com- 
manding a  cavalry  brigade  on  the  left,  that  only 
one  Confederate  brigade  had  crossed  to  the  west 
side  of  the  Chicamauga,  that  he  (McCook)  had 
destroyed  the  bridge  (Reed's)  behind  it,  and  we  were 
to  take  and  hold  the  ford,  preventing  further  cross- 
ing by  the  enemy,  while  our  first  and  second 
brigades  were  to  find,  attack  and  capture  the 
enemy's  supposed  isolated  brigade.  This  informa- 
tion, if  given,  proved  entirely  erroneous,  nearly  the 
whole  Confederate  army  being  in  position  between 
our  lines  and  the  creek,  and  their  brigades  were  not 
hard  to  find  when  we  came  to  look  for  them. 

Our  brigade  was  formed  with  the  2nd  Minnesota 
on  the  left  and  the  35th  Ohio  on  the  right  of  the 
front  line,  with  Smith's  battery  in  the  road  between 
them.  The  87th  Indiana  in  a  second  line,  behind 
the  35th  Ohio;  the  9th  Ohio  was  detached  with 
the  division  ammunition  train.  So  we  commenced 
our  march,  a  few  skirmishers  preceding  our  front 
line.  After  proceeding  along  the  road,  which  seemed 
to  follow  a  ridge  of  small  elevation,  and  while  yet 


iOO  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

to  the  left  and  rear  of  Baird's  division,  of  whose 
position  we  had  no  knowledge,  we  heard  musketry 
to  our  right  and  front.  Changing  our  direction  to 
face  it,  to  the  southward,  we  moved  off  the  ridge 
and  down  an  easy  slope,  and  soon  met  the  enemy 
in  force,  now  supposed  to  be  Echol's  and  Wilson's 
brigades,  and  the  firing  began  at  once.  In  a  few 
minutes  the  enemy  retired,  then  rallied  and  attacked 
again,  and  were  again  repulsed,  this  time  retiring 
out  of  our  sight.  We  gathered  up  our  wounded 
men  and  carried  them  back  over  the  ridge  to  the 
northern  slope  in  our  rear  (the  band  performing 
this  service),  replenished  the  cartridge  boxes  and 
readjusted  our  line,  the  87th  Indiana  meantime 
changing  places  with  the  35th  Ohio,  on  our  right. 
In  a  few  minutes  the  firing  again  broke  out  in  our 
front,  but  while  bullets  dropped  in  among  us,  we 
were,  on  account  of  the  trees  and  under  brush, 
unable  to  see  any  men  for  a  time.  Then  the  firing 
approached  and  the  big  guns  joined  in  for  a  few 
rounds,  then  a  burst  of  cheers,  "the  rebel  yell,"  the 
artillery  ceased  and  the  rattling  musketry  came 
nearer  and  the  bullets  thicker.  Our  men  were  get- 
ting nervous  and  were  ordered  to  lie  down  and  hold 
their  fire  until  they  could  see  the  enemy.  Presently, 
to  our  astonishment,  a  straggling  line  of  men  in 
our  own  uniform  appeared,  then  more  of  them, 
running  directly  toward  us,  their  speed  accelerated 
every  moment  by  the  yelling  and  firing  of  the 
exultant  enemy  behind  them.  Our  men  got  ready 
and  waited  while  the  stampeded  brigade,  officers 
and  men,  passed  over  our  lines  to  the  rear,  and 
then  as  the  pursuing  enemy  came  in  view,  gave  them 


THE  CAMPAIGN  AND  BATTLE  OF  CHICAMAUGA.     101 

a  volley  that  extinguished  their  yelling  and  stopped 
their  advance.  They  rallied,  however,  and  stood  for 
a  few  minutes  receiving  and  returning  our  fire,  then 
wavered,  broke  and  ran  out  of  sight.  Just  now  the 
9th  Ohio  arrived,  having  abandoned  the  ammuni- 
tion train  when  the  firing  broke  out,  and  followed 
our  trail  to  the  front.  The  firing  had  ceased  when 
Col.  Kammerling  rode  up  and  vociferously  demanded 
"where  them  Got  tarn  rebels  gone;"  some  one 
pointed  in  the  direction  they  were  last  seen,  and 
away  went  the  9th  Ohio  over  our  front  line,  disre- 
garding Van  Derveer's  orders  to  come  back,  and  we 
could  hear  them  yell  and  cheer  in  both  languages 
long  after  they  disappeared  from  sight.  About  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  distant  they  found  and  recaptured 
the  batter}-  (Guenther's),  which  the  enemy  had 
taken  half  an  hour  before.  The  enemy's  troops 
about  the  battery  made  a  fight  for  it,  and  Kam- 
merling lost  a  good  many  men  in  getting  it,  and 
was  even  then  obliged  to  leave  it,  when  recalled  by 
a  peremptory  order  to  rejoin  the  brigade,  which  he 
did  not  receive  or  obey  too  soon. 

During  the  first  fighting  our  band  men,  as  they 
had  been  previously  instructed,  were  busy  with  the 
stretchers,  picking  up  the  wounded  and  carrying 
them  back  up  the  slope  of  the  ridge  and  over  to  the 
north  side,  where  our  surgeon,  Dr.  Otis  Ayer,  had 
established  a  temporary  hospital,  and  was  giving 
them  such  attention  as  circumstances  permitted.  It 
soon  happened,  however,  that  some  of  these  men 
were  shot  the  second  time  while  being  carried  back, 
and  the  carrying  was  suspended  until  the  firing 
should  cease. 


102  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Our  skirmishers  soon  reported  the  enemy  moving 
around  our  left  flank,  and  our  regiment  by  facing 
left  and  filing  left,  changed  front  to  face  the  east. 
The  enemy  made  an  attack  upon  us  in  this 
position,  which  was  repulsed  by  our  regiment 
alone,  and  then  by  the  same  maneuver  we  changed 
front  again  to  face  the  north,  the  enemy  having 
passed  a  large  force  around  our  left  flank  during 
the  last  attack,  which  was  probably  made  to 
cover  their  movement. 

We  were  now  in  the  road  again,  and  on  the 
right  of  our  brigade,  on  a  line  nearly  parallel  to 
our  first  position,  but  facing  the  opposite  direction, 
and  the  movement  had  brought  our  left  company 
next  to  the  battery,  which,  without  changing 
position  much,  had  exchanged  the  places  of  its 
guns  and  caissons,  and  now  faced  the  north ;  the 
other  regiments  of  our  brigade  had  formed  on  the 
left  of  the  battery,  and  for  a  moment  of  silence 
we  awaited  the  onset.  Here  on  the  ground,  now 
before  us,  lay  our  wounded  men,  who  had  been 
carried  back  from  the  first  line  of  fight,  and  were 
now  between  the  opposing  lines.  But — here  they 
come — ranks  after  ranks — emerging  from  the  shelter- 
ing trees  and  underbrush,  and  approaching  us  \vith 
steady  tramp  and  desperate  silence.  Our  men  were 
cautioned  now  to  shoot  to  kill,  and  we  opened 
with  file  firing  that  soon  broke  up  the  orderly 
march  of  the  first  line,  whose  men  hesitated  and 
commenced  firing  wildly;  their  second  lines  were 
now  promptly  moved  up,  and  all  together  pressed 
on  in  the  charge.  Our  big  guns  were  loaded  with 
canister,  which  opened  great  gaps  in  the  enemy's 


THE  CAMPAIGN  AND  BATTLE  OF  CHICAMAUGA.     103 

columns  at  every  discharge,  while  the  withering 
fire  of  our  infantry  was  thinning  their  ranks  at 
every  step  of  their  advance.  The}'  greatly  out- 
numbered us,  and  it  seemed  a  question  for  a  time 
whether  we  could  so  reduce  their  numbers  and 
their  nerve  as  to  prevent  an  actual  collision  in 
which  they  would  have  the  majority;  but  they 
began  to  waver  at  sixty  yards,  and  at  forty  they 
broke,  and  then  ran,  every  man  for  himself,  leav- 
ing, alas!  hundreds  of  brave  fellows  prostrate  in 
helpless  suffering  •  before  us,  some  of  them  inter- 
mingling with  our  own  wounded  men  who  had 
been  carried  there  from  the  first  fight  of  the  morning. 

We  supposed  this  attacking  force  to  have  been 
the  division  which  had  earlier  in  the  day  success- 
full}-  assaulted  the  brigades  of  King  and  Scribner, 
capturing  their  two  batteries.  This  assault  and 
repulse  ended  our  part  of  the  battle  for  the  day; 
we  now  refilled  our  cartridge  boxes,  gathered  our 
wounded  men  and  sent  them  to  the  field  hospital 
at  Cloud's  house,  and  collected  our  dead  for  burial. 

Our  regiment  had  commenced  the  battle  with 
three  hundred  and  eighty-four  men  and  officers,  of 
whom  eight  had  been  killed  and  forty-one  wounded ; 
none  missing. 

While  waiting  orders  here  we  heard  from  time 
to  time  the  roar  of  battle  along  the  line  to  the 
southward,  but  saw  nothing  more  of  the  enemy  in 
our  vicinity. 

In  the  afternoon  we  were  moved  southward  to 
a  field  southwest  of  Kelly's  house,  where  we 
bivouacked  for  the  night.  We  had  had  no  rest  and 
but  little  food  since  noon  of  the  18th.  The  night 


104  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

•was  clear  and  cold,  and  many  of  the  men  in  the 
excitement  and  changing  positions  in  the  battle, 
had  lost  their  knapsacks  and  blankets.  No  fires 
were  permitted  until  after  sunrise  next  morning, 
and  we  passed  a  cheerless  and  uncomfortable  night. 
Yet  when  we  remembered  the  thousands  of  poor 
fellows  who,  maimed  and  suffering,  lay  scattered 
all  over  the  fields  and  woods,  without  food,  water 
or  care,  we  forgot  our  own  discomfort  in  pity  for 
the  wounded  and  dying. 

We  all  knew  that  the  issue  had  not  been  decided, 
aud  that  the  battle  must  be  renewed  next  day, 
with  probably  better  preparation  and  more  des- 
perate fighting,  and  no  one  could  predict  what 
would  be  his  own  fate  when  the  contest  should  be 
over. 

Sunday  morning,  the  20th,  the  sun  rose  peace- 
fully over  the  misty  landscape ;  all  was  quiet  as 
the  grave;  the  stillness  was  in  fact  oppressive  for 
a  time.  The  tired  soldiers,  stiff  with  cold,  got  up 
from  their  hard  beds  on  the  ground,  stamped  the 
kinks  out  of  their  legs  and  answered  the  roll  call, 
and  then,  kindling  their  little  fires,  cooked  their 
bacon  and  coffee.  Our  brigade,  not  being  in  line, 
was  then  formed  as  a  reserve  in  an  open  field  near 
Kelly's  house,  and  west  of  the  Lafayette  road, 
perhaps  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  rear  of  the  line  of 
battle  which,  located  in  the  woods,  was  invisible 
to  us. 

About  nine  o'clock  a  scattering  fire  of  musketry 
ran  along  the  line  in  our  front,  increasing  rapidly 
until  within  a  few  minutes  the  terrific  roar  of  file 
firing  was  in  full  volume,  and  the  enemy's  bullets 


THE  CAMPAIGN  AND  BATTLE  OF  CHICAMAUGA.      105 

were  passing  over  our  line  of  battle,  chipping 
through  the  leaves  and  branches  of  the  trees,  and 
dropping  into,  among  and  around  us  in  a  very 
disquieting  manner.  Directly  the  artillery  opened 
also,  and  while  the  big  shells  were  not  so  numerous 
as  the  little  bullets,  they  commanded  more  deference 
and  respect  individual!}^  when  they  did  come.  This 
did  not  appear  to  be  a  nice  quiet  place  for  a  reserve 
brigade,  but  there  was  none  more  sheltered  in  the 
vicinity,  so  we  had  to  stay  there  and  take  it;  the 
men  meanwhile  bracing  each  other  up  with  jokes 
and  facetious  comments  on  everything  in  sight  or 
that  might  happen. 

Presently  the  stragglers  appeared  coming  out  of 
the  woods  and  crossing  the  road  and  field,  passing 
us  to  the  rear.  Some  few  of  them  were  wounded, 
but  the  most  of  them  were  cowardly  skulkers  who 
had  sneaked  out  of  the  line  of  battle,  and  were 
getting  out  of  personal  danger  as  fast  as  they  could. 
Their  number  increased  rapidly,  until  it  seemed  to 
us  that  our  experience  of  the  previous  day  was 
about  to  be  repeated.  Some  efforts  were  made  to 
stop  and  reform  the  demoralized  fugitives,  but  most 
of  them  had  thrown  away  their  guns  and  all  of 
them  their  courage,  and  in  their  then  condition  they 
were  not  worth  stopping.  One  party  of  six  emerged 
from  the  woods,  carrying  a  blanket  in  which  lay  a 
man  with  face  covered.  These  men  all  carried  their 
guns  also,  and  we  set  them  down  as  a  guard 
detailed  to  carry  back  some  general  officer,  desper- 
ately wounded  no  doubt;  who  could  he  be?  Pos- 
sibly our  own  Van  Cleve,  whose  division  we  knew 
was  somewhere  in  the  front  line.  Directlv  a  shell 


106  THE  STORY  or  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

came  howling  through  the  woods  and  burst  on  the 
ground  near  them,  when  they  dropped  the  blanket 
and  their  guns  and  took  the  double  quick  to  the 
rear,  and  the  man  in  the  blanket  got  up  and  ran 
after  them.  Out  of  this  and  other  incidents  we  got 
some  diversion,  yet  the  situation  was  a  trying  one 
and  we  were  much  relieved  when  orders  came  to 
go  to  the  left  of  the  line  to  repel  a  threatened  attack 
there.  We  moved  northward  along  the  west  side  of 
and  parallel  to  the  Lafayette  road  some  distance, 
and  then  changing  direction  to  the  right  approached 
the  road  with  our  front  facing  eastward,  parallel 
to  it.  At  this  point  we  passed  through  a  thicket 
of  small  pines  and  other  trees,  which  had  obstructed 
our  view  to  the  north  and  east.  Emerging  from 
this  we  crossed  the  road  in  line  of  battle,  to  take 
position  on  the  left  of  a  battery  already  there.  Our 
brigade  was  in  two  lines,  the  2nd  Minnesota  being 
on  the  right  of  the  front  line,  nearest  the  battery, 
the  87th  Indiana  on  its  left,  and  the  35th  and  9th 
Ohio  in  the  second  line.  Before  us  lay  a  large  open 
field,  bounded  on  the  north  by  a  strip  of  woods, 
perhaps  twenty  rods  distant  from  the  left  of  our 
brigade.  As  we  halted  on  the  east  side  of  the  road 
and  began  looking  about  for  the  enemy,  whose 
appearance  we  expected  in  our  front  (eastward), 
the  air  was  suddenly  filled  with  bullets  and  a  line 
of  gray  smoke  appeared  along  the  edge  of  the 
woods  on  our  left  and  at  right  angles  with  our 
lines.  A  change  of  front  to  the  left  was  instantly 
ordered,  and  executed  by  the  left  wheel  of  the 
brigade.  Pending  this  movement,  which  was  made 
on  the  run,  we  could  not  return  the  enemy's  fire, 


THE  CAMPAIGN  AND  BATTLE  OF  CHICAMAUGA.     107 

and  we  lost  a  good  many  men.  The  mounted 
officers  seemed  to  be  especially  selected,  several  of 
them  and  all  of  the  horses  in  the  brigade  but  two, 
were  shot  before  the  affair  was  over. 


CORRECTION. 

Tht-  sentence  comment-nip  with  the  fifth  line  of  page  1O7,  should  rend 
as  follows: 

"The  wheel  completed,  our  line  commenced  tiring 
at  once,  but  finding  ourselves  at  disadvantage  in 
the  open  field  we  charged  up  to  the  .edge  of  the 
woods,  driving  the  enemy  back  and  then  again 
fire  on  them  at  short  range." 


tnat  this  division  had  passed  entirely  around  the 
left  of  our  line,  and  was  about  to  attack  our  left 
division  in  the  rear,  when  we  arrived  and  encount- 
ered it  as  above  described. 

The  fighting  over  for  a  time,  our  wounded  men 
were  being  gathered  up  and  made  as  comfortable  as 
possible,  until  they  should  be  removed  to  the  hos- 
pital. In  the  gallop  around  with  the  right  wing  of 
his  regiment  in  the  open  field,  the  horse  bearing  the 
writer  was  shot  in  the  breast,  and  dropping  to  her 
knees  dismounted  her  rider  by  a  flying  somersault 
over  her  head.  She  was  abandoned  there  but  was 
found  after  the  fight  by  one  of  our  wounded  men, 
and  they  helped  each  other  over  the  road  to  Ross- 
ville,  rejoining  the  regiment  about  midnight.  After 
several  weeks  in  hospital  both  recovered  and  served 
to  the  end  of  the  war. 


108  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Presently  the  crash  of  musketry  was  heard  again 
to  our  right,  and  as  we  listened  it  seemed  to  be  veer- 
ing around  to  our  rear.  As  the  enemy  then  had  dis- 
appeared from  our  own  front,  a  few  men  were 
detailed  to  care  for  the  wounded  until  the  ambu- 
lances should  arrive,  and  we  marched  away  towards 
the  sound  of  the  guns.  The  enemy  soon  reoccupied 
the  field  we  had  won  and  left,  and  the  twelve 
detailed  men  with  our  assistant  surgeon,  Dr.  Otis 
Ayer,  and  many  of  our  wounded  were  made 
prisoners.  As  we  got  into  the  open  field,  where  we 
had  been  "in  reserve"  in  the  morning,  we  were  met 
by  an  aid  from  Gen.  Thomas,  who  conducted  us  to 
Horseshoe  Ridge,  so  called,  near  the  Snodgrass  house. 
The  battle  seemed  to  be  trending  to  that  position 
from  all  directions  and  we  could  see  that  we  were 
needed  there.  Gen.  Thomas  rode  down  to  meet  us, 
and  after  giving  some  directions  to  Col.  Van  Derveer, 
sat  upon  his  horse  and  looked  the  men  over  as  we 
marched  past  him  and  up  the  slope  of  the  ridge. 
Undoubtedly  he  was  glad  to  see,  in  this  emergency, 
the  regiments,  that  under  his  eye,  had  fought  and 
won  "Mill  Springs,"  and  he  said  to  the  writer  that 
he  "was  glad  to  see  us  in  such  good  order."  We 
did  not  then  know  how  many  troops  he  had  seen 
in  disorder  during  the  day,  nor  did  he  know  that 
within  an  hour's  fighting  we  had  just  lost  more 
than  one-third  of  our  regiment  in  killed  and  wounded, 
yet  we  greatly  appreciated  the  compliment  at  the 
time. 

Arriving  on  the  ridge,  our  regiment  took  the 
place  of  one  already  there  (the  21st  Ohio),  which 
had  exhausted  its  cartridge  boxes,  and  immediately 


THE  CAMPAIGN  AND  BATTLE  OF  CHICAMAUGA.     10d 

had  a  view  of  the  assaulting  columns  of  the  enemy, 
just  commencing  the  ascent  of  the  southern  slope 
in  our  front.  Ranks  followed  ranks  in  close  order, 
moving  briskly  and  bravely  towards  us.  It  was 
theirs  to  advance,  ours,  now,  to  stand  and  repel. 
Again  the  order  was  passed  to  aim  carefully  and 
make  every  shot  count,  and  the  deadly  work 
began.  The  front  ranks  melted  away  under  the 
rapid  fire  of  our  men,  but  those  following  bowed 
their  heads  to  the  storm  of  bullets  and  pressed  on, 
some  of  them  falling  at  every  step,  until,  the  sup- 
porting touch  of  elbows  being  lost,  the  sur- 
vivors hesitate,  halt,  then  turning,  start  back 
with  a  rush  that  carries  everything  with  them  to 
the  rear — all  who  escape  the  bullets,  as  deadly  in 
the  wild  retreat  as  in  the  desperate  and  orderly 
advance.  This  was  all  repeated  again  and  again, 
until  the  slope  was  so  covered  with  dead  and 
wounded  men  that  looking  from  our  position  we 
could  hardly  see  the  ground.  Never  was  any 
position  more  gallantly  assaulted  or  more  des- 
perately defended.  Meanwhile  General  Steedman 
had  arrived  with  two  brigades  of  fresh  troops, 
who  came  up  on  our  right  with  enthusiastic 
cheers  and  "forty  rounds"  in  their  boxes,  just  in 
time  to  meet  the  enemy's  advance  on  the  crest. 
Our  brigade  had  so  far  been  the  right  of  our  line 
at  this  place  (except  three  detached  regiments), 
and  being  furiously  assaulted  in  front,  could  not 
have  prevented  the  enemy  from  enveloping  our 
right  flank,  as  they  seemed  to  have  plenty  of 
troops  and  had  discovered  that  the  ridge  to  our 
right  was  vacant.  Steedman's  arrival  and  prompt 


110  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

attack  regained  and  secured  that  ground,  and  he 
brought  a  spare  wagon  load  of  cartridges — more 
precious  than  diamonds — as  many  of  our  men  had 
placed  the  last  one  in  the  gun.  The  cartridges 
were  quickly  brought  to  the  line  and  distributed, 
just  in  time  to  meet  the  next  attack.  This  was 
made  by  fresh  troops,  and  their  advance  was  only 
broken  up  when  their  foremost  men  \vere  within 
ten  paces'  of  our  line.  Some  of  them  came  on  and 
surrendered;  most  of  them  who  ran  back  were 
killed  or  wounded  before  they  got  out  of  range. 
From  five  to  six  o'clock  an  ominous  quietude 
prevailed.  Our  cartridges  were  again  exhausted, 
and  the  boxes  of  our  own  and  the  enemy's  dead 
and  wounded  were  searched  and  emptied,  and 
bayonets  were  fixed  when  it  was  found  that  we 
had  less  than  two  rounds  to  the  man.  Another 
attack  was  made  just  before  dark,  and  was 
repulsed  in  our  front  as  the  others  had  been,  but 
there  seemed  to  be  no  contest  on  the  right,  where 
Steedman's  line  had  been,  and  presently  we  found 
that  his  troops  had  been  withdrawn  and  that  the 
enemy  were  groping  their  way  around  to  our 
right  and  rear,  and  had  already  captured  the 
detached  regiments  which  had  been  between  us  and 
Steedman.  The  35th  Ohio  was  promptly  placed  to 
protect  that  flank,  and  after  receiving  a  few  shots 
the  enemy  retired,  no  doubt  in  the  darkening 
woods  uncertain  of  the  situation,  and  disconcerted 
by  the  loss  of  their  commanding  officer,  who  fell 
there. 

After  another  hour  of  waiting  we  were  ordered 
to    move    to    Rossville    by    the    Dry    Valley    road, 


THE  CAMPAIGN  AND  BATTLE  OF  CHICAMAUGA.     Ill 

which  we  did,  with  empty  guns,  but  without 
opposition  or  adventure,  our  brigade  being,  as  we 
supposed,  the  last  Union  troops  to  .  leave  the 
bloody  field.  Our  division  commander,  however, 
says  as  to  this  in  his  official  reports  (just  pub- 
lished) that  the  68th  and  101st  Indiana  covered 
the  retirement  of  our  brigade,  they  "being  the 
only  troops  that  had  any  ammunition  whatever." 
About  midnight  we  arrived  at  Rossville  gap,  and 
forming  line,  stacked  arms  and  laid  down  to  rest. 
Next  morning  at  Rossville,  a  muster  and  roll  call 
was  had,  and  every  man  of  the  2nd  Minnesota 
regiment  of  the  384,  who  commenced  the  battle  of 
the  19th,  was  accounted  for;  35  had  been  killed, 
113  wounded,  14  captured  and  222  were  present 
for  duty  unhurt.  This  report  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  the  brigade  commander,  who,  after  verifying 
its  correctness,  said  in  his  official  report  of  the 
battle,  "  It  is  a  notable  fact  that  the  2nd  Minnesota 
regiment  had  not  a  single  man  among  the  missing, 
or  a  straggler  during  the  two  days  engagement." 

It  appears  from  the  "official  records"  just  pub- 
lished by  the  War  Department  that  our  (Van 
Derveer's)  brigade  was  the  last  organized  brigade 
to  leave  the  field,  being  followed  only  by  the  two 
detached  regiments  as  mentioned  above.  Also,  that 
but  one  (Whitaker's)  of  the  thirty-six  brigades  of 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  engaged  in  these 
battles,  lost  so  many  men  in  proportion  to  the  men 
engaged  as  did  ours.  This,  considered  with  the 
fact  that  at  no  time  during  either  day  did  we  vacate 
any  position  in  presence  of  the  enemy,  shows  that 


112  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

the  quality  arid  discipline  of  the  regiments  were  to 
be  relied  on  in  any  emergency. 

The  bravery  and  persistence  with  which  the 
enemy  assaulted  our  line  on  the  Horseshoe  Ridge 
may  be  estimated  when  we  know  that  his  two 
divisions  (Hindman's  and  Preston's)  lost  more  than 
three  thousand  killed  and  wounded  in  their  vain 
efforts  to  capture  it. 

No  serious  demonstration  was  made  by  the 
enemy  on  the  21st,  though  our  division  remained 
in  position  at  Rossville  gap.  That  day  was 
occupied  by  Gen.  Rosecrans  in  placing  the  troops 
about  Chattanooga  as  they  were  collected,  and  in 
restoring  order  and  supplying  ammunition,  and 
otherwise  preparing  for  defence. 

Our  brigade  was  ordered  in  about  midnight, 
and  at  daybreak  on  the  22nd  was  in  line  at  and 
in  front  of  Chattanooga.  (See  official  reports, 
appendix  Nos.  16,  17,  18,  19  and  20.} 


CHATTANOOGA  AND  MISSION  RIDGE.  113 

CHAPTER  IX. 
CHATTANOOGA  AND  MISSION  RIDGE. 

As  the  troops  arrived  at  Chattanooga  from  the 
Chicamauga  battle  field,  they  were  formed  in  a 
defensive  line  extending  from  the  Tennessee  river 
above  (north  of)  the  town,  around  by  the  east  in 
a  grand  semi-circle,  enclosing  it,  to  the  river  bank 
below  (south  of)  it,  the  line' being  about  two  miles 
long.  The  river  sweeping  around  the  town  by  the 
west,  in  a  corresponding  curve  enclosed  it  on  that 
side. 

Our  division,  being  the  last  to  arrive,  at  day- 
break of  the  22nd,  was  placed  in  position  near  the 
center  of  the  line  and  on  and  across  the  Rossville 
road,  by  which  we  had  come. 

A  chain  of  pickets  being  established  about  half  a 
mile  in  front  of  the  general  line,  the  troops  began 
at  once  to  protect  themselves  in  position,  by  exca- 
vating a  simple  ditch,  throwing  the  earth  in  a  ridge 
on  the  outer  side  of  it,  and  by  the  middle  of  the 
forenoon  a  continuous  intrenched  line  had  been 
completed.  This  was  from  day  to  day  improved 
and  strengthened,  and  at  intervals  quite  pretentious 
works  were  constructed  of  earth,  and  supplied  with 
artillery.  The  enemy  appeared  about  noon  of  the 
22nd,  and  as  they  located  our  picket  line,  established 
theirs  conforming  to  it  and  from  forty  to  eighty 
rods  distant,  and  then  formed  their  lines  and  estab- 
lished their  camps  nearly  parallel  and  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  from  ours;  occupying  also  the  point  of 


114  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Lookout  mountain  and  the  crest  of  Mission  Ridge, 
and  fortifying  them. 

Here  for  two  months  the  two  armies  faced  each 
other ;  the  enemy  having  its  line  of  communication 
by  rail  from  Atlanta  open  and  unobstructed,  was 
well  supplied  with  food,  while  our  army,  dependent 
on  a  difficult  and  tortuous  route  from  Bridgeport 
over  the  mountains,  was  for  several  weeks  reduced 
to  half  rations  of  food  and  forage,  while  clothing 
and  other  supplies  could  not  be  got  through  at  all. 
Most  of  the  men  had  lost  or  thrown  away,  in  the 
two  days  battle,  their  tents  and  blankets,  and  now 
these  were  much  needed  as  the  cold  weather  came 
on.  The  exposure  to  the  weather  and  the  poor  and 
scanty  food,  with  the  confinement  in  the  line  of 
battle  camps,  rapidly  increased  our  sick  roll  and 
filled  the  hospitals,  while  for  want  of  forage  the 
horses  and  mules  generally  became  unfit  for  any 
service  and  many  of  them  perished. 

The  operations  by  which  the  "river  line"  was 
opened  and  the  situation  improved  cannot  be  and 
need  not  be  detailed  in  this  narrative,  which  does 
not  pretend  to  be  a  history  of  armies  or  of  cam- 
paigns. Our  men  bore  the  want  of  proper  shelter, 
clothing  and  food  with  brave  and  uncomplaining 
patience,  and  with  no  thought  of  giving  up  the 
position  so  dearly  won  and  so  important  to  hold. 

Meantime  we  had  some  diversions,  such  as  they 
were.  For  a  while  the  fences  and  spare  houses 
supplied  us  with  fuel,  but  these  were  soon  exhausted 
and  all  the  shade  and  fruit  trees  within  the  lines 
were  next  consumed,  the  ground  being  cleared 


CHATTANOOGA  AND  MISSION  RIDGE.  115 

quite  out  to  our  picket  line  of  everything  that 
would  burn.  Then  it  got  to  be  the  habit  about 
once  a  week  to  force  back  the  enemy's  picket  line 
sixty  or  eighty  rods  to  take  in  some  more  trees. 
This  was  usually  done  at  the  hour  when  our 
pickets  were  relieved  by  fresh  details,  the  old  and 
new  guards  joining  in  the  enterprise.  The  opposing 
picket  lines  got  to  be  on  habitually  good  terms 
with  each  other,  and  although  the  enemy  always 
resisted  vigorously  any  advance  upon  them,  yet, 
after  the  brush  was  over  and  the  new  line  estab- 
lished, they  seemed  to  bear  no  resentment,  and 
would  permit  our  choppers  and  wagons  to  work 
quite  up  to  our  line  of  sentinels  and  within  easy 
musket  range  without  molestation. 

The  enemy  had  planted  some  heavy  guns  on  the 
nose  of  Lookout  mountain,  and  would  occasionally 
admonish  us  of  their  presence  by  heaving  a  big 
shell  into  our  camps.  One  of  these  shells  descended 
through  the  roof  and  two  floors  of  a  hospital 
building  filled  with  sick  and  wounded  men,  but 
without  harming  any  one,  as  it  did  not  explode. 
Another  one  burst  over  our  regiment,  mortally 
wounding  Sergt.  Caviezel,  of  Company  "F,"  and 
injuring  several  others.  Soon,  however,  our  camp 
sentinels  were  instructed  to  watch  for  the  smoke 
or  flash  of  the  gun  and  give  warning,  and  as  the 
shell  in  its  flight  was  usually  visible  against  the 
sky,  the  men  could  find  shelter  if  necessary.  But, 
for  want  of  ammunition,  probably,  the  enemy  did 
not  thus  annoy  us  very  often,  and  we  gradually 
ceased  to  expect  or  watch  for  the  "big  kettles,"  as 
the  boys  called  them. 


116  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Here  the  army  was  reorganized,  and  when  this 
was  completed  we  found  that  the  101st  Indiana, 
75th  Indiana  and  the  105th  Ohio  had  been  added 
to  the  brigade,  Col.  Van  Derveer,  of  the  35th 
Ohio,  still  commanding  it.  In  the  seven  regiments 
now  composing  it,  he  had  in  the  aggregate  less 
men  than  in  the  four  with  which  he  commenced 
the  battle  of  Chicamauga,  four  weeks  ago.  We 
are  now  known  as  the  2nd  Brigade,  3rd  Division, 
14th  Army  Corps,  Brig.  Gen.  A.  Baird  commanding 
the  division  and  Maj.  Gen.  Geo.  H.  Thomas  the 
corps. 

On  the  19th  of  October  Gen.  Rosecrans  vacated 
and  Gen.  Thomas  assumed  command  of  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland,  and  Gen.  John  H.  Palmer  of 
the  14-th  Corps.  On  the  20th  our  reorganized 
brigade  was  assembled  and  re-encamped  in  a  new 
position,  our  regiment  occupying  what  was  then 
known  as  Hospital  Hill,  about  half  a  mile  in  rear 
of  our  former  position,  and  a  much  more  desirable 
location.  Here  we  constructed  huts,  and  with  the 
scanty  materials  available  made  them  as  comfort- 
able as  we  could. 

On  the  4th  of  October  Maj.  Davis,  who  had 
been  wounded  at  Chicamauga,  left  us  on  sick  leave, 
and  on  the  16th  of  November  Col.  George  also 
started  for  Minnesota  with  a  surgeon's  certificate 
of  disability  and  sixty  days'  leave  of  absence. 
About  the  1st  of  November  the  new  line  of  supplies 
by  the  Tennessee  river  from  Bridgeport  was  secured 
and  opened,  and  soon  afterwards  full  rations  and 
issues  of  clothing  and  camp  equipage  were  realized, 
to  our  great  comfort  and  relief. 


CHATTANOOGA  AND  MISSION  RIDGE.  117 

The  topography  about  Chattanooga  is  peculiar 
and  picturesque  at  all  times.  It  was  especially 
interesting  when  occupied  by  the  opposing  armies. 
In  the  day  time  the  enemy  could  look  down  upon 
us  in  and  about  the  city  from  the  surrounding  and 
commanding  heights  of  Mission  Ridge,  Orchard 
Knob  and  Lookout  mountain,  and  doubtless 
amused  themselves  in  their  idle  hours  in  watching 
our  movements  and  speculating  when  they  should 
close  in  upon  us  and  capture  us.  We  in  turn  could 
with  the  naked  eye  trace  their  intrenched  lines  and 
note  the  location  of  their  big  guns  and  field  bat- 
teries, and  with  field  glasses  could  see  their  men 
whenever  they  appeared  in  or  in  front  of  their  lines. 

But  at  night,  when  the  grand  semi-circle  was 
lighted  up  with  the  enemy's  little  camp  fires,  whose 
light  was  continually  intermitted  by  the  squads  of 
shivering,  half  clothed  rebels  standing  and  moving 
around  them,  the  spectacle  was  one  we  never  tired 
of  watching.  Nearly  every  evening  the  signal 
torches  on  Lookout  mountain  and  on  Mission  Ridge 
were  flashing  messages  to  each  other  over  our 
heads  and  across  the  valley.  Our  signal  officers 
soon  picked  up  their  code,  and  so  Bragg's  messages 
were  given  to  Thomas  and  Grant  as  promptly  as 
to  Hardee  and  Breckinridge.  Occasionally  a  big 
gun  on  Lookout  mountain  would  open  out  in  a 
flash  like  the  full  moon,  and  then  we  suddenly 
became  interested  in  locating  the  fall  of  the  shell, 
though  the  chances  were  a  million  to  one  that  it 
would  not  strike  anyone's  particular  position.  But 
as  soon  as  the  supply  problem  was  solved  the 
preparations  for  another  battle  were  energetically 


118  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

pushed,  until  on  the  22nd  of  November  all  was 
ready.  On  the  23rd  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
moved  out  by  divisions,  in  battle  array,  in  the 
open  space  between  the  opposing  intrenched  lines 
east  of  the  city,  the  men  carrying  three  days' 
rations  and  one  hundred  cartridges  each. 

This  movement  was  in  plain  sight  of  the  enemy 
of  course,  but  no  special  preparations  seem  to  have 
been  made  to  oppose  it.  Some  of  the  prisoners  said 
afterwards  that  they  supposed  a  grand  review  was 
to  take  place  and  others  that  the  "Yanks"  were 
out  of  wood  again  and  were  going  to  take  in  a 
fresh  supply.  By  a  quick  rush  in  the  afternoon  our 
lines  were  advanced,  capturing  the  enemy's  in- 
trenched lines  on  Orchard  Knob  and  along  the  range 
of  hills  connected  with  it.  During  the  night  Sher- 
man's army  crossed  the  river  above  Chattanooga, 
and  next  morning  got  into  position  for  attacking 
the  north  end  of  Mission  Ridge,  while  Hooker's 
army  got  ready  for  an  assault  on  the  north  end  of 
Lookout  mountain. 

Hooker's  attack  was  made  on  the  morning  of 
the  24th,  and  was  so  successful  that  about  noon 
his  troops  appeared  coming  around  the  nose  of  the 
mountain  into  plain  view  from  Chattanooga,  driv- 
ing the  enemy  before  them. 

Rain  and  mist  soon  hid  the  contending  forces 
from  our  sight,  but  we  could  distinctly  hear  the 
musketry  and  so  trace  the  advance  of  our  troops 
as  the  "battle  above  the  clouds"  went  on.  By 
night  fall  the  mist  had  cleared  away  and  the  two 
opposing  lines  could  be  located  and  observed  by  the 
flashes  of  the  muskets,  which  lighted  the  slopes  of 


CHATTANOOGA  AND  MISSION  RIDGE.  119 

the  mountain  like  swarms  of  fire  flies.  The  contest 
ended  about  9  o'clock  p.  M.,  and  in  the  night  the 
enemy  abandoned  the  mountain  altogether,  crossing 
the  valley  and  reinforcing  their  lines  on  Mission 
Ridge. 

Sherman's  attack  was  made  about  noon  and 
was  obstinately  resisted.  He  did  not  make  much 
progress  though  he  kept  at  the  enemy  all  day, 
compelling  him  to  reinforce  that  part  of  his  line 
heavily. 

On  the  25th  Sherman  renewed  his  attack  on  the 
enemy's  extreme  right,  at  the  north  end  of  the  ridge, 
while  Hooker  descended  into  the  Chattanooga 
valley  and  directed  his  march  towards  the  enemy's 
left,  at  the  Rossville  Gap.  The  enemy  in  his  hasty 
retreat  had  destroyed  the  bridge  over  the  Chatta- 
nooga creek  and  Hooker  had  to  replace  it,  which 
delayed  his  arrival  at  Rossville  until  about  3 
o'clock  P.  M. 

Meantime  the  enemy  was  marching  troops  north- 
ward along  the  narrow  roadway  on  the  crest  of 
Mission  Ridge,  to  strengthen  his  right  against 
Sherman,  and  about  noon  our  division  was  ordered 
to  our  left  to  report  to  him.  After  marching  about 
two  miles  to  reach  his  position  it  appeared  that  he 
had  all  the  troops  that  he  could  use,  and  we  were 
ordered  back  to  form  as  the  left  division  of  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland,  then  in  position  facing 
Mission  Ridge. 

Here  our  brigade  occupied  the  center  of  the 
division,  the  first  (Turchin's)  being  on  our  right, 
and  the  third  (Phelps')  on  our  left.  Our  own 
brigade  was  formed  for  battle  in  two  lines,  of  three 


120  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

regiments  each,  with  the  2nd  Minnesota  regiment 
about  three  hundred  yards  in  advance  and  covering 
the  entire  brigade  front,  with  two  companies 
deployed  as  skirmishers  and  six  companies  as 
reserve  (companies  "E"  and  "G"  being  on  detached 
service). 

The  official  report  of  the  regimental  commander, 
written  on  the  30th  of  November,  1863,  describes 
the  further  movements  of  the  regiment  as  follows, 
the  entire  report  being  quoted  here: 

"Headquarters  2nd  Regt.,  Minn.  Vols., 

CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  Nov.  30th,  1863. 
Capt.  J.  R.  BEATTY,  A.  A.  A.  G.  2nd  Brigade,  3rd  Division, 
14th  A.  C. 

Captain :  In  response  to  circular  instructions  of  this 
date  from  brigade  headquarters,!  have  the  honor  to  submit 
the  following  report  of  the  part  taken  b3rthe  2nd  Minnesota 
Infy.  Vols.  in  the  operations  against  the  enemy  during  the 
week  commencing  November  23rd,  1863. 

On  Monday  the  23rd  inst.  at  3  o'clock  p.  M.,the  regiment 
marched  from  its  encampment  in  Chattanooga  with  the 
other  regiments  comprising  the  2nd  brigade,  with  three 
days  rations  and  one  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition  per 
man,  and  was  placed  in  line  of  battle  about  half  a  mile 
distant  from  and  in  front  or  south  of  Fort  Negley. 

The  regiment  remained  in  position  here  until  noon  of 
Wednesday  the  25th,  when  with  the  brigade  it  marched  to 
the  left,  taking  a  position  to  the  east  of,  and  about  a  mile 
distant  from  Fort  Wood,  and  facing  the  enemy's  positions 
at  the  foot  of  and  on  the  crest  of  Mission  Ridge. 

Here  the  regiment  was  advanced  with  two  companies 
deployed,  for  the  purpose  of  covering  the  brigade  in  its  for- 
mation and  movement  towards  the  enemy's  works. 

The  brigade  being  formed,  a  general  advance  was  com- 
menced at  3  o'clock  P.  M.  and  continued  for  a  distance  of 
about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  without  opposition,  when  the 
deployed  companies  reached  the  eastern  or  further  edge  of  a 


CHATTANOOGA  AND  MISSION  RIDGE.  121 

strip  of  woods  and  came  in  full  view  of  the  enemy's  works; 
the  remaining  companies  being  about  150  yards  in  rear  of 
the  deployed  line  and  the  remaining  six  regiments  of  the 
brigade  about  300  yards  still  further  back  and  partially 
concealed  from  the  enemy's  view  by  the  woods  in  front  of 
them. 

Immediately  in  front  of  the  deployed  line  lay  an  open  field, 
the  ground  descending  for  a  short  distance  to  a  small  creek, 
and  beyond  it  rising  gradually  for  a  distance  of  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  crest  of  a  low  secondary  ridge  run- 
ning parallel  to,  and  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant  from 
the  foot  of  Mission  Ridge.  Along  the  crest  of  this  secondary 
ridge  was  a  breastwork  of  logs,  occupied  as  the  front  line 
of  the  enemy's  defences  by  two  regiments  or  battalions  of 
infantry.  Beyond  it  the  ground  descended  with  an  easy 
slope,  for  a  distance  of  three  or  four  hundred  yards  to  the 
foot  of  the  main  or  Mission  Ridge,  which  rises  thence  with 
a  slope,  gradual  at  first,  but  increasing  in  abruptness 
towards  the  top,  to  a  height  of  five  or  six  hundred  feet. 
Along  the  crest  of  Mission  Ridge  were  the  main  defences  of 
the  enemy,  consisting  of  a  breastwork  of  logs,  full}'  manned 
with  infantry,  and  with  artillery  posted  on  the  more  com- 
manding points  in  sections  of  two  guns  each  at  intervals  of 
from  one  to  two  hundred  yards. 

The  artillery  thus  placed  swept  with  direct  and  crossfire 
the  whole  space  between  the  ridges  mentioned,  and  also  the 
open  field  across  which  we  had  to  advance  upon  the  first 
breastwork. 

In  the  vallej^  bet  ween  the  main  and  secondar}- ridges  were 
the  enemy's  encampments,  the  huts  mostly  hidden  from  our 
view  by  the  smaller  ridge  and  the  breastworks  in  front  of 
them. 

The  space  between  the  ridges  had  been  covered  with 
woods,  but,  except  the  steepest  and  highest  parts  of  the 
main  ridge,  where  the  smaller  trees  had  been  felled  and 
"entangled"  as  an  obstacle,  the  timber  had  been  recently 
cut  away  and  used  in  the  construction  of  huts  and  breast- 
works. 


122  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

After  remaining  in  front  of  this  part  of  the  enemy's  line 
for  some  twenty  minutes,  I  received  an  order  from  Col.  Van 
Derveer  commanding  the  brigade,  to  deploy  my  entire  com- 
mand and  advance  upon  the  first  line  of  breastworks,  to 
seize  and  occupy  it  if  possible ;  if  repulsed  to  fall  back  on 
the  brigade. 

The  men  were  briefly  informed  of  the  desperate  service 
required  of  them,  and  instructed  to  withhold  their  fire,  and 
to  move  steadily  forward  until  the  work  was  gained,  and 
then  defend  it  to  the  utmost. 

The  reserve  companies  were  then  deployed  and  with 
bayonets  fixed  the  whole  line  commenced  the  advance.  The 
enemy  opened  fire  with  musketry  from  the  breast  works  and 
artillery  from  the  main  ridge  as  soon  as  our  line  emerged 
from  the  woods,  but  in  the  face  of  both  the  men  moved 
silently  and  steadily  forward,  across  the  creek,  and  up  the 
slope,  until  within  about  one  hundred  paces  of  the  breast- 
work,-when,  as  the  pace  was  quickened,  the  enemy  broke 
from  behind  the  work  and  ran  in  some  confusion  down  the 
slope  into  and  beyond  their  camps,  where  taking  cover 
behind  the  stumps  and  among  the  huts  they  opened  a  brisk 
fire  on  us  again  as  soon  as  we  gained  and  occupied  the 
breastwork. 

Our  line,  now  partially  sheltered  by  the  work,  returned 
the  fire  with  such  effect  as  soon  to  drive  the  enemy  out  of 
the  valley  and  up  the  slope  of  the  main  ridge,  be\'ond  the 
range  of  our  rifles. 

Our  loss  in  this  attack  was  severe,  though  probably 
much  less  than  would  have  been  suffered  by  troops  advanc- 
ing upon  the  work  in  regular  order  of  battle.  Fourteen 
prisoners  were  taken  in  this  breastwork. 

About  twenty  minutes  after  the  capture  of  the  first  work, 
the  brigade  advanced  from  the  woods,  and  on  arriving  at 
the  work  halted  for  a  few  minutes,  when  the  order  was 
given  for  a  general  assault  upon  the  enemy's  defences  on 
Mission  Ridge. 

My  regiment  moved  forward  with  the  others  of  the 
brigade,  assembling  on  the  colors  as  far  as  it  was  possible 
on  the  way,  until  in  ascending  the  steepest  part  of  the  slope, 


CHATTANOOGA  AND  MISSION  RIDGE.  123 

where  every  man  had  to  find  or  clear  his  own  way  through 
the  entanglement,  in  the  face  of  a  terrible  fire  of  musketry 
and  artillery,  the  men  of  the  different  regiments  of  the 
brigade  became  generally  intermingled,  and  when  the 
brigade  finalh'  crowned  the  enemy's  works  at  the  crest  of 
the  ridge,  the  regimental  and  even  the  company  organiza- 
tions had  become  complete!}'  merged  in  a  crowd  of  gallant 
and  enthusiastic  men,  who  swarmed  over  the  breastworks 
and  charged  the  defenders  with  such  promptness  and  vigor 
that  the  enemy  broke  and  fled,  leaving  their  artillery  "in 
battery, "and  barely  getting  away  a  portion  of  the  caissons 
and  limbers.  Six  twelve-pounder  Napoleon  guns  were  thus 
captured  by  our  brigade,  two  of  them  by  the  men  of  my 
regiment. 

Hardly  had  a  lodgment  been  gained  in  the  works  when 
the  enemy's  reserves  made  a  furious  counter-attack  upon 
our  men,  3ret  in  confusion.  This  attack  was  promptly  met 
by  a  charge  en  masse  by  the  crowd,  which,  after  a  few 
minutes  of  desperate  hand-to-hand  fighting,  cleared  the 
ridge,  leaving  the  place  in  our  undisputed  possession,  with 
between  two  and  three  hundred  prisoners  captured  in  the 
melee. 

The  captured  artillery  was  turned  upon  the  retreating 
enenry  and  manned  by  volunteers  from  the  different  regi- 
ments, but  darkness  soon  closed  over  the  field  and  the  firing 
ceased. 

The  regiments  were  assembled,  and  after  collecting  and 
caring  for  the  dead  and  wounded,  we  bivouacked  for  the 
night. 

During  the  operations  here  recounted,  about  150  men  of 
my  regiment,  including  two  entire  companies,  "F"  and 
"G,"  were  on  detached  service,  leaving  but  fifteen  officers 
and  170  men,  185  in  all,  present  for  duty.  Of  these,  one 
commissioned  officer  was  killed  and  three  wounded,  and 
four  enlisted  men  were  killed,  and  thirty-one  wounded; 
total  of  casualties,  thirty-nine,  or  a  fraction  more  than 
twenty-one  per  cent  of  the  number  engaged.  Three  of 
the  wounded  have  since  died. 


124  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

The  ammunition  expended  averaged  fifty-two  rounds 
per  man.  Of  seven  non-commissioned  officers  in  the  color 
guard,  all  but  one  were  killed  or  wounded,  the  color  lance 
was  cut  off  by  a  fragment  of  shell,  and  the  field  torn  out  of 
the  colors  by  another. 

On  the  morning  of  the  26th  we  drew  rations  for  four 
days,  and  at  noon  marched  in  pursuit  of  the  retiring  enemy, 
a  distance  of  about  eight  miles,  to  the  crossing  of  Chica- 
mauga  creek  by  the  Rossville  and  Graysville  road,  where 
we  bivouacked  for  the  night. 

On  the  27th,  at  4  o'clock  A.  M.,  we  marched  again,  pass- 
ing through  Graysville  and  arriving  at  Ringgold,Ga.,  about- 
10  o'clock  A.  M.,  a  distance  of  about  eleven  miles. 

Here  an  engagement  with  the  rear  guard  of  the  enemy 
was  in  progress,  and  we  -were  formed  in  line  of  battle  in 
readiness  to  act  as  occasion  might  require. 

At  noon  the  enemy  retired,  and  at  night  we  bivouacked, 
remaining  in  the  same  position  until  noon  of  the  29th,  when 
we  marched  for  Chattanooga,  arriving  at  6  p.  M.,  a  distance 
of  eighteen  miles. 

Of  the  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  regiment, 
under  the  hardships  and  privations  of  the  -week's  campaign 
in  severe  and  inclement  weather,  and  with  insufficient 
clothing,  and  scanty  rations,  and  especially  of  their  gallant 
bearing  under  fire  in  the  operations  of  Wednesday,  I  am 
incompetent  to  speak  in  terms  that  \vould  do  them  justice. 

The  regiment  being  brought  into  action,  deplo3red  as 
skirmishers,  there  was  better  scope  for  individual  acts  of 
heroism  or  of  cowardice,  than  would  other-wise  have  been 
afforded  ;  while  I  witnessed  many  of  the  former,  I  am  proud 
to  say  that  none  of  the  latter  have  come  to  my  knowledge. 

A  list  of  casualties  is  herewith  transmitted. 

I  am,  Captain,  very  respectfully, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

J.  W.  BISHOP, 
Leiut.  Col.,  Com'd'g  2nd  Minn.  Vols." 

The  brigade  commander,  Col.  Ferdinand  Van 
Derveer,  in  his  official  report  states  his  total  force 


CHATTANOOGA  AND  MISSION  RIDGE.  125 

engaged  at  1,679  officers  and  men,  and  his  total 
casualties  at  161  killed  and  wounded. 

Separating  the  2nd  Minnesota  force  and  casualty 
reports  from  those  of  the  Brigade,  we  find  that  the 
average  loss  of  the  other  six  regiments  was  a  little 
more  than  eight  per  cent,  while  that  of  the  2nd 
was,  as  before  stated,  over  twenty-one  per  cent.  This 
disparity  followed  naturally  from  the  brigade  com- 
mander's judicious  plan  for  the  attack,  which  assigned 
to  our  regiment  the  duty  of  carrying  the  first  line 
of  breast  works  "if  we  could"  before  exposing  the 
other  six  regiments  to  the  enemy's  fire.  Doubtless 
the  aggregate  loss  in  the  brigade  would  have  been 
much  greater  had  the  attack  been  made  by  the 
whole  force,  and  doubtless,  also,  the  loss  in  our  own 
regiment  would  have  been  greater  and  our  attack 
would  have  failed,  had  not  our  men  kept  their  nerve 
and  their  wind  and  their  cartridges  throughout 
their  steady  advance  across  the  open  field,  reserving 
all  for  the  final  rush  and  contest. 

The  brigade  commander  acknowledged  the  gal- 
lant service  of  the  regiment  in  the  following 
language,  which  is  quoted  from  his  official  report: 
"Especial  credit  is  due  Lieut.  Col.  Bishop  for  the 
"management  of  his  regiment  when  skirmishing  in 
"front  of  the  brigade,  and  the  gallant  manner  in 
"which  his  command  carried  the  rifle  pits  at  the 
"foot  of  the  ridge." 

There  has  been  a  great  deal  of  discussion  as  to 
who,  if  any  one,  ordered  the  advance  from  the 
first  line  of  breast  works,  up  the  main  ridge.  Gen. 
Grant  is  said  to  have  ordered  the  advance  to  the 
first  line.  It  is  further  said  that  he  was  surprised 


126  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

and  angry  to  see  the  general  line  of  battle  climbing 
over  the  first  line  of  breastworks  and  moving 
toward  and  up  the  slope,  and  that  he  sharply 
notified  Gen.  Thomas  that  somebody  would  be  held 
to  account  for  it;  evidently  he  did  not  think  the 
assault  could  possibly  succeed. 

When  we  got  possession  of  the  first  line  we  found 
that  while  to  the  enemy,  standing  in  a  ditch  on 
their  side  of  the  work,  it  was  a  breast  high  pro- 
tection, to  us  on  the  other  side,  it  was  only  knee 
high  and  no  protection  at  all  against  the  musketry 
and  canister  that  rained  down  upon  us  from  the 
crest  of  the  ridge.  We  could  not  go  back  and  we 
could  not  stay  there,  and  without  any  definite 
orders  our  men  began  to  scatter  out  toward  the 
front,  taking  such  casual  shelter  as  the  stumps  and 
old  huts  afforded,  while  working  up  towards  the 
foot  of  the  main  ridge. 

While  this  was  going  on,  and  when  every  one 
could  see  that  we  ought  to  move  at  least  to  the 
actual  foot  of  the  slope,  where  the  enemy's  artillery 
could  not  reach  us  except  by  crossfire,  Gen. 
Baird,  commanding  our  division,  said:  "Let  the 
men  go  on  up  the  ridge,"  and  they  went;  the  field 
officers  dismounted,  as  the  slope  was  there  im- 
practicable for  horses,  and  presently  the  whole 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  hung  at  the  foot  of  that 
ridge  like  a  blue  fringe  a  mile  and  a  half  long. 
With  what  expectancy  must  Grant  and  Thomas 
have  watched  that  slow  and  toilsome,  but  sure 
and  steady  moving  up  of  that  line  of  battle  until 
they  could  see  the  colors  planted  on  the  log 
breastworks  along  the  crest,  the  boys  in  blue 


CHATTANOOGA  AND  MISSION  RIDGE.  127 

tumbling  over  it,  and  the  guns  turned  upon  the 
routed  enemy.  The  enemy  appeared  to  be  astonished 
and  disconcerted  at  our  movement  up  the  main 
ridge,  and  they  fired  wildly,  both  infantry  and 
artillery,  so  that  after  we  reached  the  foot  of  the 
slope  we  had  but  few  casualties.  If  the  defenders 
had  done  their  duty  with  coolness  and  courage, 
every  man  of  us  would  have  been  shot  on  the 
slope  or  driven  back  to  the  foot  of  it. 

It  seldom  happens,  however,  that  two  lines  of 
battle  face  each  other  with  equal  nerve  and 
determination ;  when  one  line  insists  on  staying  or 
advancing,  the  other  gives  way.  In  this  case  we 
wanted  that  ridge  and  believed  that  we  could  and 
would  take  it,  and  did;  while  the  enemy,  having 
just  seen  us  take  the  first  line,  and  knowing 
Hooker's  troops  were  approaching  on  their  left 
and  Sherman's  on  their  right,  seemed  to  be  con- 
vinced that  we  would  take  the  crest  also,  and  they 
lost  their  courage  and  gave  it  up  without  half 
defending  it.  (See  Appendix  Nos.  21,  22  and  23.} 


128  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

CHAPTER  X. 
"VETERANIZING." 

Having  returned  to  our  camp  on  Hospital  Hill 
in  Chattanooga  on  the  evening  of  the  29th  of 
of  November,  we  enjoyed  a  comfortable  night's 
rest  under  shelter,  after  the  week  of  bivouacking, 
marching  and  fighting.  On  the  30th,  Companies 
"F"  and  "G,"  having  been  on  detached  service 
cutting  timber  for  and  aiding  in  construction  of 
bridges  and  pontoons,  rejoined  the  regiment. 

The  weather  was  getting  cold  and  wintry,  but 
with  fair  supplies  of  clothing,  blankets  and  food, 
and  with  comfortable  huts  and  plenty  of  fuel, 
the  situation  was  quite  tolerable.  The  enemy, 
some  twenty  miles  away,  seemed  quite  willing  to 
let  and  be  let  alone.  About  the  10th  of  December 
large  details  were  sent  out  to  the  field  of  Chica- 
mauga  to  gather  and  bury  the  dead,  who  had  thus 
far  been  neglected.  Major  Davis  returned  from 
sick  leave  on  the  15th,  bringing  a  well  filled  chest 
of  provisions  lor  the  field  and  staff  mess,  and 
various  other  luxuries  and  comforts,  which  were 
much  appreciated.  The  "F.  and  S."  of  the  9th 
Ohio  were  invited  in,  and  we  made  a  jolly  night 
of  it. 

About  this  date  the  announcement  was  received 
from  the  war  department  that  regiments  having 
been  in  service  two  years  or  more  were  invited  to 
re-enlist  for  three  years,  and  upon  so  re-enlisting 
would  be  sent  home  on  thirty  days'  furlough.  This 


' '  VETERANIZING  . "  129 

announcement  was  eminently  wise  and  timely  under 
the  circumstances. 

The  three  years'  term  of  many  of  the  regiments 
would  expire  in  the  summer  of  1864,  and  it  had 
become  evident  that  the  war  would  not  be  ended 
within  that  term.  New  recruits  and  new  regiments 
were  coming  out  slowly,  and  it  had  moreover  come 
to  be  understood  that  a  veteran  regiment  was,  in 
efficiency,  much  more  than  equal  to  a  new  and 
inexperienced  one.  The  proposition  was  read  to 
the  regiment  at  dress  parade,  and  the  men  were 
briefly  informed  by  the  Lieutenant  Colonel  com- 
manding that  for  himself  he  intended  to  continue 
in  service  to  the  end  of  the  war,  if  he  should  live 
that  long;  that  the  question  of  re-enlistment  was 
a  personal  one,  that  every  man  should,  with  due 
consideration,  decide  for  himself,  and  that  having 
so  decided,  his  position  should  be  respected  what- 
ever his  decision  might  be,  and  that  there  should 
be  no  distinction  or  discrimination  made  or  per- 
mitted in  the  regiment  between  the  men  who  did 
and  those  who  did  not  re-enlist,  every  man  being 
expected  to  do  his  own  duty  faithfully  to  the  end 
of  his  engagement. 

The  question  was  taken  up  by  the  men,  and  a 
good  deal  of  earnest  discussion  was  had  among 
them  during  the  next  ten  days.  They  were,  after 
two  and  a  half  years  of  service,  perfectly  familiar 
with  the  restraints  and  hardships  and  dangers  of 
war,  and  were  not  to  be  enticed  into  re-enlistment 
ignorantly..  They  longed  to  return  to  their  homes 
in  peace,  but  they  were  as  loyal  and  patriotic  as 
when  they  first  responded  to  the  Call  to  Arms,  and 


130  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT 

they  well  knew  that  their  services  were  as  much 
needed  and  more  efficient  and  valuable  than  they 
were  in  '61. 

While  the  enlisted  men  were  considering  the 
matter,  a  question  arose  as  to  the  intention  of  the 
War  Department  with  regard  to  the  commissioned 
officers,  they  having  been  mustered  anew  for  three 
years  at  each  promotion,  many  of  them  \vithin  a 
few  months.  ("Officers  in  service  whose  regiments 
"or  companies  may  re-enlist  in  accordance  with  the 
"provisions  of  this  order  before  the  expiration  of 
"their  present  term,  shall  have  their  commissions 
"continued,  so  as  to  preserve  their  date  of  rank  as 
"fixed  by  their  original  muster  into  the  United 
"States  Service."  Par.  ix,  A.  G.  O.,  Gen.  Ord.  No. 
191 — 1863.)  The  proposition  of  the  government 
(see  quotation  above)  was  silent  or  at  least 
obscure  as  to  this,  and  on  the  19th  the  regimental 
commander  visited  Gen.  Thomas'  headquarters  to 
get  an  explanation.  After  some  discussion  he  was 
instructed  that  no  re-enlistment  was  expected  of 
the  officers  whose  companies  or  regiments  might 
veteranize,  each  officer  having  to  serve  three  years 
from  date  of  his  last  muster  unless  sooner  dis- 
charged, and  he  was  instructed,  in  case  his  regiment 
re-enlisted,  to  assign  such  officers  as  he  might  select 
to  remain  with  the  non-veterans  and  to  take  the 
others  home  with  the  regiment  to  be  furloughed. 
Later  on,  it  was  held  that  officers  must  re-enlist 
for  three  years  like  the  men,  to  entitle  them  to  go 
home  with  their  regiments  on  "veteran  furlough," 
and  those  declining  the  re-enlistment  and  furlough 
would  be  entitled  to  discharge,  as  the  enlisted  men 


'VETERANIZING."  131 

were,  at  the  expiration  of  three  years  from  their 
original  enlistment.  This  ruling,  however,  was  not 
arrived  at  until  after  'our  departure  for  the  North, 
and  was  not  made  known  to  us  until  after  our 
return  from  "veteran  furlough."  It  made  trouble 
for  some  of  our  officers,  as  will  appear  in  the  next 
chapter. 

On  the  25th  of  December  the  regiment  was 
reported  at  headquarters  as  re-enlisted ;  eighty  per 
per  cent  (about  300  men)  having  so  decided.  This 
was  one  of  the  first  regiments  in  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland  to  so  re-enlist,  but  several  days  elapsed 
before  the  proper  rolls  could  be  obtained  and  made 
ready  for  the  muster  out  and  in,  which  took  place 
on  the  29th  of  December.  Meantime,  as  the  writer 
was  informed,  two  other  regiments  were  got  "ready 
and  mustered  ahead  of  it. 

The  payment  of  the  troops  and  procuring  trans- 
portation and  other  preparations  for  going  home 
consumed  several  days.  The  non-veterans,  number- 
ing about  seventy-five  men,  were  formed  into  a 
temporary  company,  and  Capt.  John  Moulton,  of 
Company  "D,"  Lieut.  H.  V.  Rumohr,  of  Company 
"G,"  and  Lieut.  M.  Thoeny,  of  Company  "C," 
were  detailed  to  remain  with  them.  This  detach- 
ment was  assigned  to  duty,  during  the  absence 
of  the  regiment,  as  provost  guard  at  division 
headquarters. 

On  the  8th  of  January,  1864,  the  regiment 
embarked  at  3  o'clock  in  the  morning,  on  the  small 
steamers  Dunbar  and  Kingston,  and  arrived  at 
Bridgeport  in  the  afternoon,  distance  about  forty 
miles  by  river.  Here  six  companies  were  loaded  into 


132  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

box  cars  of  a  train  supposed  to  be  ready  to  start 
for  Nashville,  and  the  other  four  companies  were 
assigned  to  follow  on  another  train  with  like 
accommodations.  After  a  leisurely  wait,  without  any 
apparent  reason  for  it,  the  first  train  started  at  11 
o'clock  P.  M.,  and  arrived  at  Nashville  at  noon  next 
dav ;  while  the  next  train  started  at  4:30  next 
morning,  and  arrived  at  Nashville  in  the  evening. 
This  trip  without  exercise  or  fire  or  warm  food,  in 
the  mid-winter,  was  a  pretty  severe  one,  but  we 
were  yet  in  the  war  country  and  going  home, 
and  there  was  little  grumbling  or  complaint. 

At  Nashville  we  were  quartered  in  a  vacant 
female  seminary  building,  and  subjected  to  another 
tedious  wait  of  four  days  for  transportation  north- 
ward. The  boys  were,  however,  comfortably  housed 
and  fed,  and  had  liberty  to  go  about  the  cit}-  as 
they  pleased  within  certain  hours.  At  7  P.  M.,  on 
the  14th,  a  train  of  empty  box  cars  was  assigned 
to  us,  in  which  we  had  another  cold  and  uncom- 
fortable journey  of  eighteen  hours,  arriving  at 
Louisville  about  noon  on  the  15th,  and  were 
assigned  quarters  in  the  military  barracks.  Here 
was  fire  and  shelter  and  food,  and  the  boys  were 
just  getting  to  feel  warm  and  happy  again  when  a 
detachment  of  the  provost  guard  appeared,  with 
orders  to  permit  none  of  our  men  to  go  out  until 
we  were  ready  to  leave  the  city.  These  orders,  it 
appeared,  were  given  by  the  post  commander,  in  the 
fear,  no  doubt,  that  a  regiment  of  veteran  soldiers, 
just  arrived  from  the  field  of  war,  would  sack  the 
city  it  not  put  under  restraint.  From  our  point  of 
view,  the  proceeding  was  an  outrage  not  to  be 


"VETERANIZING."  133 

submitted  to  for  a  moment,  and  a  vigorous  protest 
was  entered  by  the  regimental  commander,  who  in 
reporting  at  post  headquarters,  announced  himself 
as  responsible  for  the  conduct  of  his  men  in  Louis- 
ville as  elsewhere,  and  demanded  for  them  the 
absolute  freedom  of  the  city  with  all  the  liberty 
that  any  citizen  could  have;  that  none  of  them 
should  be  molested  or  restrained  by  the  provost 
guard  except  for  crime  or  disorderly  conduct;  that 
the  uniform  of  a  veteran  soldier  should  entitle  him 
to  the  respect  and  gratitude  of  all  loyal  people  every- 
where and  especially^  of  other  soldiers,  including  post 
commanders  and  provost  guards.  These  demands 
were  all  fully  conceded,  after  a  brief  argument,  and 
it  is  now  a  pleasant  reflection  that  the  conduct  of 
the  men  was  such  as  to  fully  justify  all  that  was 
claimed  and  obtained  for  them. 

Here  all  needed  clothing  was  supplied  for  our 
midwinter  trip  to  Minnesota,  and  we  took  advan- 
tage of  this  opportunity  to  "turn  in"  our  old 
Enfield  muskets,  which  we  had  been  obliged  to 
carry  since  our  second  equipment.  Arrangements 
having  been  made  for  this,  we  had  a  parade  march 
on  the  17th  from  the  barracks  to  the  ordnance 
building,  carrying  for  the  last  time  the  arms  and 
equipments  with  which  we  had  fought  Tullahoma 
and  Chicamauga  and  Mission  Ridge.  Many  of  the 
men  were  loth  to  part  with  them,  but  generally 
the  expectation  of  getting  new  and  better  arms -on 
our  return,  was  agreeably  entertained.  The  arms 
were  stacked,  the  cartridge  boxes  unslung  and 
hung  on  the  bayonets,  and  we  returned  to  the 
barracks  "40  rounds"  lighter  and  feeling  perhaps 


134  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

more  like  "furloughed"  men  than  before.  Our 
orders  for  transportation  to  Chicago  were  here 
obtained  over  the  Louisville,  New  Albany  &  Chicago 
Railroad  upon  the  assurance  of  the  superintendent 
that  we  should  have  comfortable  coaches  and  a 
quick  passage.  He  at  first  thought  box  cars  were 
good  enough  for  soldiers,  but  we  had  had  enough 
of  that  sort  when  no  better  could  be  had,  and  now 
insisted  upon  proper  transportation,  as  it  was  paid 
for  and  we  had  a  right  to  it.  Finally,  we  were 
notified  that  on  Monday  morning,  the  18th  of 
January,  our  train  would  be  ready  and  crossed  the 
Ohio  river  to  the  New  Albany  depot  to  find  a  train 
of  box  and  cattle  cars,  some  of  them  bedded  six 
inches  deep  with  frozen  dung,  backed  down  to  the 
platform  for  our  accommodation.  The  superin- 
tendent was  conveniently  absent,  but  he  was  in- 
formed by  telegraph  that  the  cattle  train  \vould 
not  answer  our  purpose  and  that  we  would  return 
to  Louisville  and  ask  for  transportation  by  some 
other  line  if  passenger  coaches  were  not  promptly 
provided  as  promised. 

The  weather  was  intensely  cold,  with  wind  and 
driving  snow,  and  it  was  a  shameful  thing  to  pro- 
pose to  transport  human  beings  in  such  weather 
and  in  such  cars  as  were  offered  us. 

Some  hustling  was  done  for  an  hour  or  two  and 
then  a  message  came  that  the  cattle  cars  were  all 
a  mistake  and  that  coaches  would  be  read}'  in  the 
afternoon,  and  so  we  waited.  About  5  o'clock  the 
train  was  made  ready  and  we  started  in  warm, 
comfortable  cars  for  Chicago,  expecting  to  arrive 
there  next  morning.  Such  transportation  as  that 


"VETERANIZING."  135 

would,  however,  have  been  too  good  for  soldiers, 
and  we  found  ourselves  at  7  o'clock  next  morning 
within  fifty  or  sixty  miles  of  the  Ohio  river.  The 
railroad  company  seemed  to  have  no  wood,  no 
water,  no  competent  employees  or  superintendence, 
and  we  spent  all  that  day  and  all  the  next  night 
in  alternately  waiting  in  the  sidings  and  in  rushing 
over  the  main  line  at  six  or  eight  miles  per  hour. 
On  Wednesday  morning,  thirty-eight  hours  from 
New  Albany,  our  weary  train  arrived  at  Crawfords- 
ville,  Indiana.  We  had  outlived  our  going  home 
enthusiasm  and  jollity,  and  now  only  hoped  that 
we  might  reach  Chicago  perhaps  before  we 
should  perish  of  starvation  or  old  age.  Expecting 
here  the  customary  wait  of  an  hour  or  two  at 
stations  we  began  to  climb  out  of  the  cars  to  shake 
the  aches  out  of  our  benumbed  legs  and  help  wood 
up  the  engine  as  usual.  But, — had  we  broken  into 
heaven,  or  what?  Here  were  a  hundred  genial 
faces  glowing  with  welcome,  a  hundred  voices 
cheering  the  veterans,  the  air  filled  with  hats  and 
fluttering  handkerchiefs.  The  commander  was  in- 
formed that  breakfast  was  ready  in  the  depot ; 
would  he  please  bring  in  his  men.  The  bugle  called 
"attention,"  the  ranks  were  quickly  formed,  and 
the  regiment  marched  in  and  down  either  side  of 
the  long  tables  loaded  with  "a  feast  fit  for  the 
gods."  The  ladies  filled  the  cups  with  hot  coffee, 
with  cream,  and  smiles  and  pleasant  words,  while 
the  gentlemen  urged  us  to  "eat  hearty,  boys,  you  are 
more  than  welcome."  These  generous  and  hospitable 
people  had,  it  seemed,  spent  the  small  hours  of  the 
cold  winter  morning  in  preparing  this  breakfast 


136  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

and  in  tracing  by  telegraph  our  uncertain  approach, 
so  as  to  have  it  hot  and  ready  on  our  arrival. 

Nothing  could  have  been  more  opportune  or  more 
acceptable,  as  since  the  morning  of  the  18th  we 
had  lived  on  hardtack  and  raw  bacon,  with  tank 
water.  Breakfast  over,  our  band  played  some  of 
the  popular  army  music,  while  the  officers  and  men 
said  all  the  gracious  things  they  could  think  of 
in  acknowledgement  of  the  kind  and  profuse  hos- 
pitality ;  then  the  commander  formally  tendered  the 
thanks  of  himself  and  his  regiment,  the  boys  gave 
three  hearty  cheers  for  the  ladies  of  Crawfordsville, 
and  they  in  turn  assembled  on  the  platform  and 
sang  "Rally  'round  the  Flag,  Boys,"  as  we 
resumed  our  places  in  the  cars.  That  Crawfords- 
ville breakfast  always  has  been  and  always  will 
be  gratefully  remembered  by  the  old  boys  of  the 
2nd  regiment  as  long  as  they  shall  remember  any- 
thing. Our  progress  thence  to  Chicago  \vas  some- 
what more  speedy,  only  24  hours  being  consumed 
in  the  150  miles,  arriving  there  on  the  morning  of 
the  21st.  After  breakfast  at  the  Soldiers'  Home, 
we  started  again  by  rail  for  La  Crosse,  arriving 
there  at  3  p.  m.  on  the  22nd,  where  we  were  again 
hospitably  entertained.  Hence  forward  our  trans- 
portation was  to  be  in  sleighs  by  the  stage 
company,  but  only  conve}^ances  for  half  the  regi- 
ment were  ready;  Major  Davis,  with  the  band  and 
four  companies  were  forwarded  the  same  evening, 
and  arrived  at  St.  Paul  early  Sunday  morning,  the 
24th  of  January,  140  miles  in  28  hours,  which  was 
considerably  better  time  than  we  had  made  on  the 
New  Albany  Railroad. 


"VETERANIZING."  137 

The  Lieutenant  Colonel  commanding,  with  the 
remaining  six  companies,  left  La  Crosse  twelve 
hours  later  and,  except  three  companies,  "A,"  "B" 
and  "C,"  furloughed  at  Winona,  arrived  at  St. 
Paul  Sunday  evening. 

The  ladies  of  Winona  gave  a  hot  breakfast  to 
the  first  detachment  and  a  supper  to  the  second, 
and  the  people  of  all  the  river  towns  along  the 
route  improved  every  opportunity  to  show  the 
boys  they  were  welcome. 

On  Monday,  the  25th,  the  men  dispersed  for 
their  homes,  each  with  thirty  days'  leave  of 
absence,  which  time  they  doubtless  enjoyed  as  they 
deserved  to.  Most  of  the  companies  had  formal 
public  receptions  by  their  friends  on  or  soon  after 
arrival  home.  Among  these  was  Company  "A," 
originally  commanded  by  the  writer,  who  was  a 
guest  at  their  reception  at  Chatfield  on  the  5th  of 
February,  1864.  His  reply  to  a  formal  address  of 
welcome  by  Hon.  R.  A.  Jones,  is  here  given  as  then 
reported  by  the  "Chatfield  Democrat"  as  an  expres- 
sion made  at  the  time  of  the  spirit  that  had  moved 
the  veterans  to  re-enlistment : 

ADDRESS. 
Mr.  Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : 

In  behalf  of  the  Chatfield  Guards,  I  thank  you  for  the 
kind  words  of  welcome  with  which  you  have  greeted  us 
here  to-day.  We  prize  them  as  expressions  of  your  personal 
good  will  as  old  friends  and  fellow  citizens,  and  we  value 
them  as  the3'  indicate  your  sympathy  with  our  hardships 
and  your  approval  of  our  conduct  as  soldiers,  but  more 
than  all  we  cherish  and  treasure  them  up  as  they  assure  us 
that  you  recognize  the  justice  of  the  cause  and  the  sacred- 
ness  of  the  principles  in  the  defense  in  which  we  are  engaged. 


138  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

When  traitors  in  arms  menaced  and  at  last  openly  and 
wantonly  assailed  the  government  and  the  flag,  which  from 
childhood  we  had  been  taught  to  respect  and  revere,  and 
under  which  we,  as  a  people,  had  become  great  and  glorious 
and  prosperous  and  happy  beyond  all  precedent  in  history, 
we  could  have  done  no  less  than  to  pledge,  as  we  did,  our 
best  efforts  and  if  need  be  our  lives  in  their  defense. 

After  some  thirt}-  months  of  service  in  the  field,  a  few  of 
the  one  hundred  men  whom  }^ou  sent  out  with  }rour  fervent 
blessing  in  the  summer  of  1861  have  returned  to  you  on 
furlough. 

Emancipated  fora  brief  season  from  the  stern  restraints 
and  discipline  of  war,  they  are  to-day  enjoying  for  the  first 
time  in  all  those  months,  the  absolute  personal  freedom  of 
American  citizens. 

They  have  exchanged  the  privations  and  hardships  and 
dangers  of  a  soldier's  life  for  the  plenty  and  comfort  and 
peace  and  safety  of  life  at  home;  they^  come  from  a  country 
whose  fields  are  laid  waste,  and  whose  society  is  disorgan- 
ized and  well  nigh  destroyed  by  the  blighting  breath  of  war, 
to  their  own  loved  homes,  where  industry  finds  employment 
in  all  the  avocations  of  civilized  life,  and  where  all  the 
virtues  and  graces  that  make  society  a  blessing  to  mankind, 
are  in  full  and  healthy  play.  While  you  welcome  the 
returned,  honor  the  absent  and  revere  the  memory  of  those 
who  will  return  no  more,  may  we  who  enjoy  this  brief 
respite  from  the  arduous  duties  of  the  field,  find  ourselves 
at  its  close,  encouraged  in  spirit  and  strengthened  in  num- 
bers for  the  work  yet  unfinished,  by  our  intercourse  and 
association  with  vou  here  at  home. 

Having  signified  our  own  faith  in  the  righteousness  and 
ultimate  and  speedy  success  of  our  cause  by  renewing  our 
enlistment  in  the  service,  we  appeal  to  you,  to  every  man 
and  woman  who  has  an  interest  in  societ\-  or  in  the  perpetu- 
ation of  the  blessings  of  good  government,  to  aid  us  in 
recruiting  our  ranks  from  those  who  have  thus  far  been 
spared  the  privations  and  hardships  of  the  field.  You  can- 
not love  your  homes  better,  you  cannot  value  the  blessings 
of  peace  higher  than  do  we,  so  long  exiled  from  them. 


"VETERANIZING."  139 

Gladly  would  we  put  off  the  harness  of  war  and  return  to 
our  homes  and  to  our  farms  and  workshops.  Life  in  the 
tented  Held  has  not,  for  us,  any  such  attraction  as  could 
induce  us  to  accept  it  of  choice.  No,  far  from  this.  We 
have  re-enlisted  not  that  we  love  war,  or  that  we  are 
enamored  with  the  roving,  adventurous  life  of  a  soldier,  but 
rather  because  we  love  peace  and  would  aid  in  its  speedy 
restoration. 

We  have  seen  of  war  all  we  desire  to  see,  except  the  end. 

Come,  join  with  us  then  in  the  final  struggle,  which  shall, 
with  the  blessing  of  God,  crush  the  last  semblance  of  vitality 
from  the  already  almost  prostrate  rebellion. 

The  rebel  authorities  are  making  no  provision  for  any 
campaign  beyond  the  present  one.  Every^  able  bodied  man 
within  their  reach  is  now  by  the  conscript  law  a  soldier. 
They  are  marshaling  in  the  field  for  the  last  great  effort,  all 
their  available  forces  in  the  full  knowledge  that  to  fail  now 
is  to  fail  completely  and  finally. 

Let  us  meet  them  with  a  like  appreciation  of  the  occa- 
sion, and  before  another  winter  shall  close  upon  us,  the 
military  power  of  the  rebellion  must  be  destroyed. 

This  done,  it  dies,  for  it  has  no  longer  an3r  sympathy  or 
respect  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  it  has  so  fearfully  cursed. 

This  done,  and  the  people  emancipated  from  the  cruel  and 
odious  tyrann3'  which  has  so  long  fettered  them,  will  them- 
selves establish  the  authority  of  law  and  order  and  give  the 
old  flag  to  the  breeze  in  every  state  from  Virginia  to  Texas. 

While  we  all  say  "God  speed  the  day,"  let  each  of  us 
acquit  himself  of  his  own  personal  duty  in  the  great  work 
of  restoration,  remembering  that  through  sacrifice  and 
suffering  lies  the  onh-  road  to  the  blessings  we  so  earnestly 
seek. 

The  officers,  instead  of  receiving  furloughs,  had 
been  ordered  to  recruiting  service,  and  were  aided 
everywhere  by  the  enlisted  men,  who  all  felt  inter- 
ested in  filling  up  the  regiment,  then  reduced  to 
less  than  half  the  standard  strength. 

Headquarters  were  reopened  at  Fort  Snelling  on 


140  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

the  25th  of  February,  and  as  the  men  came  in  rapidly 
the  regiment  was  mustered  for  inspection  and  pay 
on  the  29th,  showing  besides  the  300  veterans  about 
150  recruits. 

In  the  afternoon  of  this  day,  on  the  invitation  of 
the  ladies  of  St.  Anthony,  prominent  among  whom 
were  Mrs.  and  Miss  Van  Cleve,  the  wife  and 
daughter  of  our  first  Colonel,  the  regiment  marched 
from  the  fort  to  that  place,  where  a  grand  supper, 
reception  and  ball  were  given  in  its  honor  at  the 
then  vacant  Winslow  Hotel  building.  The  ball 
lasted  all  night  and  ended  with  a  hot  breakfast  at 
7  o'clock  next  morning,  after  which  the  boys 
marched  back  to  the  fort,  eight  miles,  arriving 
quite  rested  and  refreshed.  That  St.  Anthony  enter- 
tainment was  another  event  that  still  warms  the 
hearts  of  the  old  boys  whenever  they  meet  and  talk 
of  old  war  times. 

Two  or  three  days  now  came  of  busy  prepara- 
tion for  returning  to  the  front.  Aided  by  the  active 
influence  of  Gov.  Stephen  Miller,  a  complete  outfit 
of  new  Springfield  rifles,  of  uniform  pattern  and 
caliber  with  equipments  complete,  was  obtained, 
clothing  was  issued  and  transportation  ordered. 
On  the  3rd  of  March  the  first  detachment  of  150 
men  was  started  in  coaches  for  La  Crosse,  another 
detachment  followed  on  the  4th,  and  the  remainder, 
except  the  band,  on  the  5th,  all  with  orders  to 
rendezvous  at  La  Crosse. 

After  a  busy  day  on  the  6th,  the  Lieutenant 
Colonel,  staff  and  band,  left  St.  Paul  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  7th,  arrived  at  Winona  at  noon  on  the 
8th,  where  the  ladies,  who  had  been  entertaining 


"VETERANIZING."  141 

all  our  men  as  they  passed  down,  had  a  warm 
dinner  ready  for  us.  They  now  requested  that  the 
band  might  remain  over  night  and  play  for  them 
at  a  concert  to  be  given  in  aid  of  their  association 
relief  fund.  This  request,  they  were  told,  under 
the  circumstances  could  not  be  refused,  even  if  we 
had  to  stop  the  war  to  grant  it,  and  the  field  and 
staff  went  on,  leaving  the  band  to  follow  next 
morning.  Arriving  at  La  Crosse,  the  ice  was 
breaking  up,  and  the  crossing  was  a  tedious  work 
of  considerable  danger  and  difficulty.  It  was 
accomplished,  however,  without  accident  on  the 
9th  and  10th,  and  at  3  A.  M.  on  the  llth  we 
started  by  railroad  for  Chicago. 

Col.  George,  who  had  left  us  at  Chattanooga 
four  months  ago,  rejoined  the  regiment  here  and 
assumed  command.  After  breakfast  in  the  Chicago 
Soldiers'  Home,  on  the  12th,  the  regiment  was 
forwarded  in  detachments  to  Louisville,  the  last 
arriving  there  early  on  the  16th,  and  after  a  day's 
delay  proceeded  to  Nashville,  arriving  Saturday 
morning,  the  19th.  The  railroads  were  crowded 
with  returning  veteran  regiments  and  supplies  for 
the  army  at  the  front,  and  after  waiting  three 
days  we  got  orders  to  march  through  to  Chatta- 
nooga, and  moving  out  of  the  city  four  miles, 
encamped  in  the  afternoon  of  the  23rd. 

The  march  was  uneventful — an  easy  one  for  the 
veterans,  but  a  new  and  tough  experience  for  the 
recruits.  We  arrived  at  Stevenson  on  the  5th  of 
April,  and  climbing  on  top  of  a  train  of  loaded  box 
cars,  proceeded  thence  by  rail  to  Chattanooga, 
where  we  encamped  on  the  6th  on  Chattanooga 


142  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

creek,  and  reported  our  arrival  to  division  head- 
quarters, then  at  Ringgold.  On  the  9th  we  resumed 
our  march,  and  on  the  10th  rejoined  our  old 
brigade  and  division  at  Ringgold,  Ga.  Here  we 
received  a  most  hearty  welcome  from  our  non- 
veterans,  who  now  rejoined  us,  and  from  our  old 
comrades  of  the  other  regiments.  The  9th  Ohio, 
informed  of  our  approach,  and  knowing  that  all 
the  unoccupied  buildings  in  the  town  had  already 
been  demolished  to  build  camps  for  the  troops 
there,  kindly  went  out  the  day  before  our  arrival 
and  pulled  down  a  country  church,  that  we  might 
have  lumber  and  brick  on  our  camp  ground  on 
arrival. 

And  here  ended  our  veteran  furlough. 


CHAPTER    XI. 
THE  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN. 

At  Ringgold  we  found  the  arnry  comfortably  in 
camp.  Trains  were  running  pretty  regularly  bring- 
ing rations,  forage,  clothing,  camp  equipage  and 
ammunition  from  Louisville  and  Nashville,  but  the 
daily  consumption  of  so  large  an  army  was  enorm- 
ous and  the  supplies  accumulated  slowly.  Nearly 
every  train  brought  also,  on  the  roofs  of  the  loaded 
cars,  a  veteran  regiment  returning  from  furlough. 

For  us  the  next  four  weeks  were  full  of  business ; 
we  had  about  450  men  present  "for  duty,"  one- 
third  of  them  being  new  recruits  without  any  real 


THE  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  143 

experience  as  soldiers  except  that  gained  in  the 
march  through  from  Nashville,  which  was  of  con- 
siderable value  in  putting  them  on  their  soldier  legs. 
These  men  had  to  be  taught  to  handle  their  arms 
and  equipments,  and  instructed  in  guard  and  picket 
duty  and  in  the  school  of  the  soldier,  the  company 
and  the  battalion.  They  were  distributed  to  the 
several  companies  and  paired  off  with  veterans  as 
much  as  could  be.  Daily  drill  and  exercise,  forenoon 
and  afternoon,  with  dress  parade  at  "retreat"  was 
the  regular  order,  varied  once  a  week  by  a  regi- 
mental tour  of  picket  duty  in  front  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  29th  of  April  our  brigade  made  a  recon- 
noisance  to  the  front,  on  which  we  found  and 
developed  the  enemy's  line,  returning,  however, 
without  casualties,  after  giving  our  recruits  their 
first  view  of  the  men  in  grey.  This  was  repeated 
on  the  2nd  of  May,  the  brigade  going  seven  miles 
to  Tunnel  Hill. 

On  the  6th  of  May  the  regiments  got  ready  for 
active  work  by  a  careful  inspection  of  men  and 
arms  and  equipage.  The  tick  and  lame  were  sorted 
out  and  with  all  surplus  baggage  sent  back  to 
Chattanooga,  the  cartridge  boxes  always  filled  to 
"40  rounds,"  were  carefully  examined  and  the 
havresacks  supplied  with  three  days'  rations,  and 
the  ammunition  and  supply  wagons  loaded  and 
packed  ready  to  follow  the  troops. 

On  the  7th  the  Atlanta  campaign  began — the 
famous  hundred  days  of  maneuvering  and  fighting, 
without  an  hour,  by  day  or  night,  of  absolute  quiet, 
all  over  the  field  of  operations.  We  broke  camp  at 
4  o'clock  A.  M.  and  the  troops  were  soon  in  motion, 


144  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

arriving  at  Tunnel  Hill  (driving  the  enemy's  skirm- 
ishers before  us)  at  noon.  Here  the  enemy  was 
strongly  intrenched  and  some  hard  fighting  was 
done  without  dislodging  him,  our  own  regiment 
not  being  seriously  engaged.  Next  day  commenced 
the  movement  of  McPherson's  corps  to  the  right 
and  through  Snake  Creek  gap  to  the  enemy's  left 
and  rear,  resulting  in  his  evacuation  of  Dalton  on 
the  night  of  the  12th.  Another  three  days  of 
skirmishing  and  a  flank  movement  to  the  right 
forced  the  evacuation  of  Resaca  by  the  enemy  on 
the  night  of  the  15th. 

On  the  16th  we  bivouacked  at  Resaca,  on  the 
17th  at  Calhoun  and  on  the  18th  passed  through 
Adairsville,  on  the  19th  we  marched  through  Kings- 
ton and  bivouacked  beside  the  railroad  near  Cass- 
ville,  where  we  remained  three  days.  Here,  on  the 
21st,  our  long-time  comrades  of  the  Ninth  Ohio 
were  ordered  to  Cincinnati  for  muster-out,  their 
three  years'  term  having  expired.  Our  men  had 
spent  most  of  the  day  in  visiting  and  saying  "good 
by"  to  them,  and  when*the\-  were  ready  to  leave 
our  regiment  was  formed  to  give  them  a  parting 
"present  arms"  as  they  marched  past  our  front, 
followed  by  three  rousing  cheers  for  the  heroes  and 
comrades  of  Mill  Springs,  Chicamauga  and  Mission 
Ridge. 

On  the  23rd  we  marched  four  miles,  forded  the 
Etowa  river,  and  six  miles  farther  on  bivouacked 
at  Euharlie  creek.  For  the  next  eight  days  we  were 
in  charge  of  trains  in  the  rear  of  our  general  line 
of  battle.  On  the  2nd  of  June  we  were  ordered  to 
the  front,  and  coming  up  to  the  enemy's  fortified 


THE  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  145 

lines  our  brigade  intrenched  a  parallel  line  in  his 
presence  and  held  it  until  the  5th,  when  he  evacu- 
ated his  position.  It  would  be  tedious  to  detail 
here  the  alternate  moves,  waits  and  fights  of  the 
next  four  weeks.  Some  part  of  our  army  was  under 
fire  all  the  time.  So  continuous  was  the  uproar  of 
musketry  and  cannon,  near  or  remote,  and  so 
accustomed  to  it  did  we  become,  that  we  came  to 
ignore  it  altogether  unless  actually  engaged  in  it. 
Our  men  ate,  slept,  wrote  letters,  played  cards  and 
chuck-a-luck,  washed  and  mended  their  clothes  and 
polished  their  rifles  in  careless  indifference  until  we 
ourselves  were  called  out  to  make  or  repel  an 
attack.  If  at  any  hour  of  the  night  the  din  of  war 
would  absolutely  cease  the  unwonted  silence  would 
awaken  the  sleeping  soldiers  to  wonder  what  had 
happened. 

On  the  18th  of  June  it  was  our  turn  at  the 
front.  We  moved  at  9  A.  M.,  in  the  rain,  and  our 
skirmishers  soon  came  to  the  crest  of  a  low  ridge 
in  full  view  of  the  enemy's  intrenchment,  about 
300  or  400  yards  away.  It  was  well  filled  with 
infantry  and  artillery,  and  they  were  evidently 
quite  ready  to  receive  us,  their  skirmish  line  having 
been  withdrawn  to  their  breastworks.  Our  ridge 
commanded  the  enemy's  line,  and  it  seemed  im- 
portant to  occupy  it.  Presently,  indeed,  instruc- 
tions came  from  corps  headquarters  to  our  division 
to  establish  our  line  of  battle  on  that  ridge  if 
possible,  and  in  due  time  the  order  came  to  the 
2nd  Minnesota  to  mark  and  entrench  a  line  there 
for  our  brigade  front.  A  skirmish  line  was  detailed, 
and  the  men  being  carefully  instructed  by  the 


10 


146  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Lieutenant  Colonel,  each  one  carrying  a  spade 
besides  his  gun,  knapsack,  etc.,  moved  briskly  up 
to  and  were  hastily  aligned  along  the  crest.  Then 
each  man  lying  down  flat  with  his  gun  by  his  side 
and  his  knapsack  at  his  head,  commenced  excavat- 
ing a  shallow  ditch,  throwing  the  earth  up  in 
front  and  working  towards  his  neighbor.  After 
ten  or  fifteen  minutes  of  lively  work  a  second 
detail  went  out,  and,  taking  the  spades,  continued 
the  work  while  the  first  resumed  their  guns  and 
rested.  The  enemy  kept  up  a  scattering  infantry 
fire  on  us,  but  we  were  making  good  progress  with 
no  casualties,  and  would  soon  have  had  a  contin- 
uous .line  intrenched.  Suddenly  a  six-gun  battery 
came  rushing  up  from  behind  us,  and  went  into 
action  on  the  ground  we  had  been  intrenching, 
nearly  running  over  some  of  our  men  who  were 
working  there.  It  was  a  showy,  but  an  unfortun- 
ate and  unnecessary  exploit;  did  no  good,  and 
cost  some  valuable  lives.  The  enemy's  artillery 
immediately  opened  on  it  and  on  us  every  gun 
within  range,  and,  they  being  well  protected  while 
this  battery  stood  exposed,  it  got  much  the  worst 
of  the  fight,  and  soon  withdrew,  having  lost  a 
good  many  men  and  horses  and  being  generally 
knocked  to  pieces.  Meantime  Lieut.  Jones  was 
killed  and  eleven  others  of  our  regiment  were 
wounded  during  the  few  minutes  of  artillery  fight- 
ing, and  the  work  of  intrenching  was  necessarily 
suspended,  the  line  being  close  under  the  muzzles 
of  our  battery  while  in  action.  It  was  resumed 
immediately  after  the  battery  withdrew,  and  the 
line  was  completed,  but  as  the  enemy  continued 


THE  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  147 

and  increased  his  infantry  firing,  we  were  obliged 
to  deploy  a  line  to  reply  to  it,  which  was  done 
with  such  effect  as  to  keep  the  enemy's  heads  down 
and  prevent  good  aiming,  so  we  had  but  few  men 
hurt  by  their  wild  firing. 

Gen.  O.  0.  Howard,  in  the  "Century"  for  June, 
1887  (page  454),  speaks  of  this  affair  as  follows, 
being  a  witness  of  the  concluding  part  of  it: 
"Here  I  saw  a  feat  the  like  of  which  never  else- 
"  where  fell  under  my  observation.  Baird's  division, 
"in  a  comparatively  open  field,  put  forth  a  heavy 
"skirmish  line,  which  continued  under  a  heavy  fire 
"such  a  rapid  fire  of  rifles  as  to  keep  down  a 
"corresponding  hostile  line  behind  its  well  con- 
"structed  trenches,  while  the  picks  and  shovels 
"behind  the  skirmishers  fairly  flew  until  a  good 
"set  of  works  was  made  four  hundred  yards  off 
"and  parallel  to  the  enemy's." 

Our  line  established,  we  made  it  so  uncomfort- 
able for  the  enemy  that  at  night  they  abandoned 
their  position,  drawing  back  to  a  new  fortified 
line,  with  Kenesaw  mountain  as  the  centre  and 
key  point,  and  extending  from  it  east  and  south- 
east, west  and  southwest,  covering  Marietta  and 
the  railroad  from  there  to  Atlanta.  Our  army 
was  immediately  put  in  motion  and  closed  up 
again  to  within  easy  musket  range  of  the  enemy's 
new  position,  our  division  being  located  in  front 
of  the  mountain,  on  which  several  batteries  had 
been  posted.  Our  line  was  intrenched,  the  usual 
ditch  and  embankment  being  supplemented  by  a 
breastwork  of  heavy  logs,  which,  covered  and 
protected  by  the  earth  in  front,  proved  a  good 


148  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT 

protection  from  artillery  fire.  All  the  ground  in 
our  vicinity  was  covered  by  the  guns  on  the 
mountain,  and  for  a  day  or  two  they  kept  it  so 
warm  with  shot  and  shell  as  to  confine  us  closely 
to  the  breastworks;  but,  when  the  enemy  got 
tired  wasting  ammunition  and  ceased  firing,  our 
little  tents  were  set  and  the  space  in  the  rear  and 
near  the  breastworks  was  occupied  by  our  men  in 
comparative  comfort,  a  watch  being  stationed  to 
give  warning  whenever  a  puff  of  smoke  appeared 
on  the  mountain. 

The  enemy  amused  themselves  two  or  three  times 
a  day  by  shelling  our  camps  vigorously  for  a  few 
minutes  to  see  the  "Yanks"  run  for  the  breast 
works.  Here  the  muster  out  rolls  were  prepared  and 
orders  obtained  for  the  discharge  of  our  non- 
veterans,  whose  three  years  term  was  nearly 
expired.  Col.  George  announced  his  intention  to 
retire  also  at  the  end  of  his  term,  and  received 
orders  on  the  22nd  to  go  to  Chattanooga  on  the 
23rd  with  the  non-veterans,  there  to  be  mustered 
out.  The  Colonel's  age  and  physical  infirmity  dis- 
qualified him  for  a  hard  campaign  like  this,  but 
he  persisted  to  the  completion  of  his  term  and  left 
us  at  last  much  to  our  regret  and  his  own. 

About  midnight  on  the  22nd  our  regiment  was 
ordered  to  move  about  half  a  mile  to  the  right  to 
relieve  another  regiment  there  which  was  ordered 
elsewhere.  It  was  a  bright,  still,  moonlight  night, 
and  the  enemy  on  the  mountain  was  vigilant  and 
in  the  habit  of  investigating  with  his  artillery 
every  suspicious  movement,  so  the  men  were  in- 
structed to  move  quietly,  keeping  their  gun  barrels 


THE  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  149 

covered,  all  verbal  orders  and  conversation  to  be 
omitted.  Our  movement  was  thus  safely  made, 
but,  on  our  arrival,  the  commander  of  the  regiment 
to  be  relieved  woke  up  his  men  at  long  range  by 
shouting  the  regulation  commands  in  a  voice  that 
could  be  easily  heard  by  the  enemy,  who  could 
also  see  the  glimmer  of  their  muskets  in  the  moon- 
light, and  before  his  men  were  readv  to  move  a 
big  round  flash  was  seen  on  the  mountain — a  few 
seconds  later  another,  right  in  our  faces,  with  a 
deafening  explosion,  and  six  men  at  the  head  of 
our  regiment  lay  mangled  on  the  earth.  The  going 
regiment  took  to  the  woods  without  any  more 
formal  orders,  and  our  men  took  their  places  in  the 
breastworks  without  any  further  casualties,  though 
a  furious  cannonade  was  kept  up  for  half  an  hour 
or  more.  One  of  the  men  killed  was  our  Sergt.  Maj. 
P.  G.  Wheeler,  who  a  few  hours  later  would  have 
gone  to  the  rear  to  be  discharged.  It  seemed  very 
sad  that  after  three  years'  faithful  service  without 
injury,  he  should  fall  in  the  last  hours  of  his  term. 

Next  morning  at  daybreak  Col.  George  and  the 
one  hundred  and  three  non-veterans  present  with 
the  regiment  got  ready  to  take  leave  of  us,  and 
with  hearty  good  wishes  and  good-byes  we  parted 
with  them  "for  three  years  or  during  the  war." 

On  the  27th  our  division  was  placed  in  reserve 
to  Davis'  division,  which  was  ordered  to  assault 
the  enemy's  intrenched  line.  The  attack  was  most 
gallantly  made,  but  failed,  because  the  line  was  too 
strong  and  too  well  defended,  and  could  not  be 
carried.  The  loss  in  the  attacking  division  was 


150  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

heavy,  but  in  our  division,  not  seriously  under  fire, 
there  were  but  few  casualties. 

On  the  2nd  of  July  a  detachment  of  seventy-eight 
drafted  men  joined  us  from  Minnesota,  and  were 
distributed  among  the  companies. 

The  enemy  evacuated  Kenesaw  during  the  night, 
retiring  south  of  Marietta. 

On  the  4th  our  brigade  was  ordered  to  garrison 
duty  at  Marietta,  where  we  remained  eight  days. 
This  was  now  the  grand  supply  depot  for  the 
army,  and  we  had  not  only  to  protect  the  place 
from  probable  cavalry  raids,  but  unload  several 
trains  a  day  of  army  supplies  and  reload  them  into 
wagons  for  the  front.  Our  regiment  was  encamped 
on  the  beautiful  lawn  of  ex-Go v.  McDonald's  home- 
stead, and  with  a  comfortable  camp,  sufficient 
rations,  and  no  marching  or  fighting  to  do,  we 
enjoyed  the  week  here  notwithstanding  the  hard 
work  and  picket  duty.  The  new  men  were  mean- 
time kept  busy  learning  the  duty  of  soldiers. 

On  the  13th  our  brigade  marched  nine  miles  to 
the  front,  rejoining  the  division,  and  next  day 
another  detachment  of  ninety-eight  drafted  men 
joined  us.  Here  recommendations  for  promotions 
to  fill  vacant  offices  in  the  regiment  were  made 
and  forwarded  to  the  Governor  of  Minnesota. 
(See  appendix  No.  24.}  On  the  15th  our  regiment 
was  ordered  back  to  Marietta  to  relieve  the  20th 
Connecticut  regiment  as  provost  and  depot  guard. 
We  continued  on  duty  here  for  five  weeks,  our  time 
busily  occupied  in  guard  and  picket  duty,  in 
handling  commissary  and  quartermasters'  stores 


THE  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  151 

and  in  instructing  our  176  new  men,  who,  being 
mingled  in  squads  with  the  veterans,  made  rapid 
progress. 

On  the  19th  of  August  we  marched  again  to  the 
front  and  rejoined  our  brigade  before  Atlanta  on 
the  20th. 

Now  we  were  again  in  the  enemy's  immediate 
presence  and  our  old  experience  of  marching,  fight- 
ing, intrenching  and  maneuvering  was  renewed  and 
kept  up  until  on  the  30th,  the  final  movement 
around  the  enemy's  left  flank  began,  culminating 
on  the  1st  of  September  in  the  battle  of  Jonesboro, 
fought  and  won  by  our  14th  corps.  Our  brigade 
happened  to  be  in  the  second  line  during  the  fight- 
ing, and  had  but  three  men  wounded,  none  killed. 
The  enemy  was  badly  beaten  and  broken  up  in  the 
battle,  and  about  3  o'clock  next  morning  the  Con- 
federate army  evacuated  Atlanta,  setting  fire  to  the 
storehouses  containing  their  surplus  ammunition 
and  stores  which,  as  we  had  broken  the  railroad, 
they  could  not  move.  The  racket  of  exploding 
shells,  distinctly  heard  at  our  bivouac,  reminded  us 
of  the  evacuation  of  Corinth,  of  which  we  had  like 
audible  notice,  and  we  knew  that  at  last  Atlanta 
was  ours. 

After  remaining  near  Jonesboro  two  days  we 
leisurely  marched  back  toward  Atlanta,  and  en- 
camped near  the  city  on  the  8th  of  September.  We 
had  left  Ringgold  on  the  7th  of  May  with  451 
officers  and  men  present.  This  number  had  been 
increased  by  recruits  176,  returned  from  hospital 
or  detached  service,  67,  and  had  been  diminished  by 
killed  in  battle,  4 ;  wounded  and  sent  to  the  hospital, 


152  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

16;  sick  and  sent  to  the  hospital,  113;  discharged 
at  expiration  of  service,  103;  deserted,  3  ;  transferred, 
2;  dismissed,  7,  leaving  present  for  duty  Sept.  7th 
446  officers  and  men.  Not  all  the  wounded  went 
to  the  hospital.  (See  list  of  casualties  Appendix 
No.  25.} 

While  the  regiment  rests  comfortably  a  few  days 
at  Atlanta  a  bit  of  unpleasant  history  may  be 
briefly  given.  Reference  was  made  in  the  preceding 
chapter  to  the  absence  of  any  definite  understand- 
ing at  the  time  the  regiment  re-enlisted,  as  to  what 
was  to  be  done  with,  or  by,  the  commissioned 
officers  of  companies  or  regiments  whose  enlisted 
men  might  "veteranize,"  and  the  instructions  given 
to  the  regimental  commander  in  our  case,  under 
which  three  officers  were  by  him  detailed  to  remain 
with  the  non-veterans  and  the  others,  except  several 
sick  and  absent,  were  taken  to  Minnesota  with  the 
regiment,  and  some  of  them  placed  on  recruiting 
service  during  the  furlough,  on  the  theory  that  they 
would  not  be  held  to  have  re-enlisted.  After  our 
return  to  the  front  we  found  that  a  ruling  had 
been  made  that  officers  of  veteran  regiments  who 
accompanied  their  regiments  home  on  furlough 
would  be  held  as  re-enlisted  from  the  date  of  the 
veteranizing,  and  officers  declining  the  furlough 
would  be  entitled  to  discharge  at  the  end  of  three 
years  from  the  time  of  original  entry  into  service. 
On  the  16th  of  June  Col.  James  George  applied  for 
the  discharge  of  himself  and  eleven  other  officers 
and  one  hundred  and  one  enlisted  men,  non-veterans, 
then  with  the  regiment  (or  in  the  division)  whose 
time  of  service  would  expire  within  the  next  month. 


THE  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  153 

On  the  18th  one  of  these  officers  was  killed  in  battle. 
On  the  22nd  of  June  orders  were  received  for  Col. 
George  with  the  enlisted  men,  non-veterans,  to  go 
to  Chatanooga  for  muster  out.  On  the  29th,  no 
orders  as  to  the  other  officers  who  had  applied  with 
Col.  George  for  their  discharge,  having  been  received, 
six  of  them  renewed  their  request  for  discharge  at 
the  expiration  of  their  original  terms  (June  26th 
to  July  8th),  "or  as  soon  thereafter  as  the  exigen- 
cies of  the  service  will  permit."  One  of  these  men 
was  a  few  days  later  wounded  in  action.  Their 
second  request  was  approved  as  the  first  had  been, 
by  the  regimental  and  brigade  commanders,  on  the 
ground  that  these  officers  accompanied  the  regiment 
to  Minnesota  on  veteran  furlough  in  January  last 
before  the  order  requiring  officers  to  re-enlist,  or 
retaining  in  the  field  those  who  declined  to  re-enlist, 
had  been  received,  and  upon  the  further  ground 
that  the  regiment  had  been  so  much  reduced  by  the 
discharge  of  non-veterans  that  the  officers  desiring 
discharge  after  having  served  their  three  years, 
could  be  now  spared. 

The  response  was  made  to  this  request  that  the 
Department  Commander  had  recommended  the  dis- 
missal of  these  officers.  A  full  explanation  and 
protest  was  immediately  made,  and  forwarded 
through  intermediate  headquarters  to  the  War 
Department  by  the  regimental  commander.  The 
officers  continued  in  the  service,  doing  their  duty 
gallantly  and  efficiently,  until  just  after  the  smoke 
had  lifted  from  the  battle  field  of  Jonesboro,  an 
order  -was  received  from  the  War  Department  dis- 
honorably dismissing  the  six  officers  for  "having, 


154  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

"whilst  their  commands  were  in  front  of  the  enemy 
"applied  to  be  mustered  out,  after  having  availed 
"themselves  of  the  furlough  granted  their  regiment 
"as  veteran  volunteers."  This  order  dated  back  to 
July  12th,  thus  covering  with  disgrace  two  months 
of  faithful  service  in  the  enemy's  presence,  after 
their  terms  had  expired.  This  order  had  to  be,  and 
was  revoked  afterwards,  and  the  victims  of  it 
were  honorably  discharged  as  of  such  later  dates  as 
included  the  whole  time  actually  served ;  but  it 
was  a  cruel  outrage  that  it  ever  should  have  been 
issued,  even  under  misapprehension  of  the  facts,  for 
which  the}-  were  in  no  wise  responsible. 

The  remainder  of  the  month  of  October  was 
occupied  with  the  usual  routine  of  camp  life  and 
duty,  a  great  deal  of  attention  being  given  to  our 
recruits,  who  were  rapidly  becoming  soldiers. 
Meantime  many  of  the  older  regiments  were,  like 
ours,  becoming  reduced  by  the  discharge  of  non- 
veterans  at  expiration  of  their  original  terms  of 
three  years ;  and  while  all  the  loyal  states  were 
raising  and  equipping  additional  troops  to  fill  the 
quotas  called  for  by  the  President,  most  of  the 
governors  were  organizing  them  into  new  regiments, 
which  were  sent  to  the  front,  in  many  cases,  under 
field  and  company  officers  of  little  or  no  actual 
military  experience.  Such  regiments  were  of  little 
use  in  active  service  in  the  enemy's  presence, 
while  if  the  recruits  had  been  distributed  to  the 
companies  of  the  veteran  regiments  the  new  men 
would,  by  association  with  the  veterans  and  under 
the  instruction  and  care  of  veteran  officers,  have 
soon  become  efficient  and  reliable.  Gen.  Geo.  H. 


THE  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN,  155 

Thomas,  who  had  known  our  regiment,  having  it 
under  his  command  for  three  years,  especially 
desired  to  have  it  filled  up  to  standard  strength, 
and  about  the  1st  of  October  the  writer,  the 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  then  commanding  the  regi- 
ment, received  a  special  written  request  from  him 
to  the  Governor  (Stephen  Miller)  for  the  assignment 
of  two  hundred  recruits  with  an  order  to  present 
the  requisition  in  person.  Leaving  the  regiment  in 
charge  of  Maj.  C.  S.  Uline,  he  started  immediately 
for  Minnesota. 

Next  day  commenced  the  northward  movement 
of  Hood's  army,  and  on  the  4th  the  regiment,  with 
its  division,  began  the  tiresome  tramp  over  the 
familiar  ground  of  the  last  summer's  campaign. 

The  march  was  uneventful  so  far  as  our  regi- 
ment was  concerned;  it  arrived  at  Gaylesville  on 
the  21st,  and  moved  thence  to  Rome  on  the  30th, 
and  thence  to  Kingston  on  the  2nd  of  November. 

On  the  4th  our  band  master,  R..  G.  Rhodes, 
arrived  with  a  complete  outfit  of  silver  horns  from 
Cincinnati.  He  had  been  sent  from  Atlanta  for 
them,  with  our  regimental  fund,  liberally  supple- 
mented by  private  subscriptions  by  the  officers  of 
the  regiment.  We  were  all  very  proud  of  our  band 
who  had  by  faithful  use  of  their  old  instruments 
well  earned  the  better  ones. 

Meantime  the  Lieutenant  Colonel,  after  a  tedious 
trip  with  many  breaks  and  delays,  had  been  to 
Minnesota,  procured  the  assignment  of  eighty-eight 
men,  all  that  there  were  then  at  Fort  Snelling 
unassigned,  and  had  got  back  to  Chattanooga  with 
them,  just  in  time  to  take  the  last  train  thence  to 


156  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

the  front,  arriving  at  Kingston  at  eleven  o'clock  in 
the  evening  of  November  llth.  The  train  -was 
immediately  unloaded  and  returned  northward,  and 
at  daybreak  next  morning  the  railroad  and  tele- 
graph lines  were  broken  behind  us  and  the  troops* 
started  for  Atlanta. 

Our  regiment  dela}red  a  little  to  distribute  our 
recruits  and  provide  them  with  rations  and  ammu- 
nition, but  marched  at  nine  o'clock  and  rejoined 
our  brigade  at  Altoona  in  the  evening. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA. 

Our  communications  northward  by  railroad  and 
by  telegraph  had  been  severed  behind  us,  and  leav- 
ing our  old  commander,  Gen.  George  H.  Thomas,  to 
take  care  of  Tennessee  and  of  Hood's  army,  we 
turned  our  faces  southward  and  retraced  the  now 
familiar  way  to  Atlanta. 

On  the  14th  of  November  we  halted  an  hour  or 
two  at  Marietta,  where  we  had  been  on  garrison 
duty  five  wreeks  in  the  preceding  summer.  The 
once  beautiful  village  had  been  sadly  devastated 
by  the  passing  hostile  armies,  and  our  old  camps 
in  the  shaded  lawns  were  hardly  to  be  recognized. 

On  the  15th  we  marched  into  and  through 
Atlanta,  encamping  about  two  miles  east  of  the 
city.  Here  we  filled  our  cartridge  boxes  and 
haversacks,  put  on  new  shoes  and  clothing,  loaded 


THE  MARCH»TO  THE  SEA.  157 

our  wagon  trains  with  ammunition  and  rations  of 
coffee,  sugar  and  hard  tack,  and  disencumbered 
ourselves  of  all  unnecessary  baggage  and  equipage 
in  preparation  for  the  campaign;  of  which  the 
direction  and  the  duration  were  not  then  definitely 
known  even  to  the  commander  himself.  The  great 
buildings  in  Atlanta  that  had  been  used  by  the 
enemy  for  manufacturing  and  storing  military 
supplies,  had  been  set  on  fire  and  the  conflagration 
had  spread  over  a  great  part  of  the  town,  there 
being  neither  men  nor  means  to  confine  it.  All 
that  night  the  burning  city  lit  up  the  sky,  and  the 
exploding  shells  and  cartridges  kept  up  a  noisy 
but  harmless  cannonade. 

Next  morning,  the  16th,  the  14th  corps,  with 
colors  unfolded  to  the  mild  autumn  breeze,  and 
bands  playing  the  inspiring  martial  music,  filed 
out  into  the  road  and  commenced  the  now  historic 
"March  to  the  Sea."  Never  marched  an  army 
more  confident  of  success  or  more  competent  to 
achieve  it.  The  men  were  mostly  veterans  of  three 
years'  service,  accustomed  to  everything  that 
happens  to  men  in  war,  acquainted  and  satisfied 
with  their  commanders,  and  well  supplied  with 
those  essentials  not  to  be  gathered  in  the  country. 

In  our  own  regiment  the  veterans  and  the  recruits 
were  about  equal  in  number,  but  they  had  been  so 
mingled  in  the  companies  and  squads,  and  the  new 
men  so  well  instructed  by  the  veterans,  that  they 
were  quite  competent  to  take  care  of  themselves 
and  do  any  duty  of  the  soldier. 

Our  course  was  eastward,  parallel  and  near  to 
the  track  of  the  Georgia  railroad ;  passing  through 


158  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Decatur  and  near  Stone  mountain,  we  encamped 
early,  after  an  easy  march  of  15  miles.  In  the  next 
day's  march  we  passed  through  Lithionia  and 
Conyers.  We  halted  at  noon  for  lunch,  and  then 
our  brigade  wrecked  two  miles  of  the  railroad 
track  before  resuming  the  march. 

This  railroad  unbuilding  was  thoroughly  and 
rapidly  done,  about  as  follows :  Our  regiment, 
having  stacked  arms  and  unslung  knapsacks  near 
the  road,  is  formed  in  a  single  rank  outside  the 
track,  facing  inwards.  The  rail  joints  at  each  end 
of  the  line  being  opened,  the  men  all  seize  the  rail 
with  their  hands,  and  at  the  "Yo  heave"  command 
they  all  lift  together,  raising  the  rails  and  ties 
gradually  up  and  higher  and  finally  overturning 
the  entire  track.  The  rails  are  joined  only  with 
the  old  style  cast  iron  chairs,  and  in  falling  on  its 
back  the  track  is  shaken  up  and  loosened.  The 
ties  are  now  knocked  off  and  piled  upon  the  road- 
bed, cobhouse-wise,  a  few  dry  fence  rails  mixed  in 
for  kindling,  the  fire  is  started  and  the  iron  rails 
being  laid  across  the  piles  are  in  a  short  time  red 
hot  at  the  centre.  A  lever  and  hook  is  now  put 
on  each  end  of  each  rail,  and  both  ends  are  so 
turned  in  opposite  directions  and  brought  down 
to  the  ground  as  to  give  the  rail  at  once  a  spiral 
twist  .and  a  Grecian  bend  along  its  middle  third. 
Sometimes  the  boys  would  give  them  an  extra 
heating  and  wind  them  around  the  trees  by  the 
roadside,  and  at  every  mile-post  the  letters  "U.  S." 
in  sixty-pound  .rails  were  set  up  to  encourage  the 
loyalty  of  those  who  might  see  and  read.  Our 
cavalry  having  broken  a  bridge  some  miles  ahead 


THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  159 

of  us,  we  found  a  locomotive  and  train  of  cars  at 
Conyers;  they  were  unable  to  get  away  before  our 
arrival — or  afterwards. 

On  the  18th  we  passed  through  Covington,  a 
pretty  village,  and  crossed  Yellow  river;  halted  at 
noon  for  lunch  and  disintegrated  our  usual  two 
miles  of  railroad  track. 

Resuming  the  march  we  halted  to  rest  by  the 
roadside  about  3  o'clock,  near  a  spring,  where 
several  of  our  brigades  had  refreshed  themselves  in 
advance  of  us.  Close  by  was  a  comfortable  farm- 
house with  several  ladies  in  the  wide  veranda  who 
watched  the  pranks  of  the  soldiers  with  much 
apparent  interest.  Presently  one  of  the  men  in  our 
leading  company  noticed  that  the  sods  and  earth 
upon  which  he  was  lying  had  apparently  been 
recently  disturbed.  Drawing  his  ramrod  he  probed 
the  soft  spot  with  the  air  of  an  expert  and  called 
for  a  spade.  A  few  minutes  of  lively  work  disclosed 
a  pine  box  while  his  comrades  crowded  around  him 
speculating  as  to  what  valuables  it  might  contain. 
The  ladies,  too,  seemed  to  be  excited  and  anxious 
about  it — perhaps  their  money  or  their  silver  spoons 
were  in  peril.  The  box  being  carefully  uncovered 
the  top  was  pried  off  and  there  exposed  to  view 
were  the  remains  of  a  spaniel  dog,  rebuking  his 
disturbers  with  an  odoriferous  protest  that  reached 
their  consciences  by  the  most  direct  route.  The  lid 
was  replaced,  the  pit  refilled  and  the  earth  and  sods 
carefully  replaced  and  dressed  over  ready  for  the 
next  brigade.  Now  the  lady  of  the  house  graciously 
remarked  that  poor  Fido  was  not  resting  in  peace 


160  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

-very  much  that  day;   this  was  the  fourth  time  he 
had  been  resurrected  since  morning. 

On  the  19th  we  turned  southward  and  left  the 
railroad,  directing  our  march  towards  Milledgeville. 
The  enemy  had  destroyed  the  bridge  over  Little 
river  and  we  had  to  lay  a  pontoon  bridge,  which 
delayed  our  march  an  hour  or  two.  The  day  was 
rainy  and  the  road  slippery,  and  the  marching 
tiresome  and  uncomfortable.  Next  day  we  passed 
through  Shady  Dale,  and  on  the  21st  the  weather  was 
fine  and  we  made  good  progress;  on  the  22nd  we 
encamped  on  a  plantation,  owned  by  Howell  Cobb, 
who  had  been  United  States  Senator  and  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury,  and  was  then  a  general  in  the 
Confederate  army.  Here  we  loaded  a  spare  wagon 
with  peanuts,  fresh  from  the  ground  on  which  we 
had  camped ;  on  the  24th  we  entered  Milledgeville, 
the  capital  of  Georgia,  and  remained  there  encamped 
over  the  next  day,  which  was  "Thanksgiving  Day," 
and  was  duly  celebrated  as  such. 

We  had  been  eight  days  on  the  road  from 
Atlanta,  and  thus  far  had  drawn  no  rations  from 
our  wagon  trains  except  coffee.  There  had  been, 
however,  no  lack  of  provisions ;  it  was  in  that 
country  the  season  of  plenty ;  there  had  been  culti- 
vated by  negro  labor  a  most  bountiful  crop  of 
corn,  sweet  potatoes  and  various  vegetables,  and 
on  ever\r  plantation  were  fat  cattle,  pigs  and 
poultry  in  abundance,  while  the  smokehouses  were 
filled  with  hams  and  bacon  just  cured. 

Butter,  honey,  sorghum,  syrup,  apples,  home  made 
jelly  and  preserves  and  pickles  had  been  also  pro- 
vided and  stored  for  us,  and  it  wasn't  even  necessary 


THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  161 

to  ask  for  them.  Every  morning  an  officer  with 
a  sergeant  and  ten  men  (one  from  each  com- 
pany) were  sent  out  to  provide  a  day's  subsistence 
for  the  regiment.  These  details  were  called  foragers 
and  later  "bummers."  They  were  of  course  armed 
and  kept  together,  and  were  thus  enabled  to  whip 
or  at  least  "stand  oft""  any  party  oi  the  enemy's 
cavalry  they  might  meet.  Details  from  other  regi- 
ments, which  scattered  and  straggled,  lost  a  good 
many  men  by  capture,  but  not  a  single  man  of 
ours  was  so  lost,  either  from  the  foragers  or  the 
column  during  the  entire  march  to  Savannah. 

These  foragers  would  get  as  far  ahead  as  they 
could  in  the  first  hour  or  two,  then  leave  the  road 
and  visit  the  plantations,  find  a  wagon  or  cart  or 
perhaps  a  carriage  and  a  single,  or  pair  of,  mules  or 
horses  or  oxen  or  cows  to  haul  it,  load  it  with 
corn  meal,  potatoes,  ham,  poultry  and  everything 
else  they  could  find  that  was  edible,  and  leading  a 
fat  steer  or  two  would  return  to  the  roadside,  and 
"join  in  "  the  column  as  the  regiment  came  along. 
The  quantity  and  quality  of  supplies  thus  collected 
by  these  foragers  was  more  than  sufficient,  and  the 
grotesque  appearance  of  the  bummers  as  they  lined 
the  roadside  in  the  afternoon  waiting  to  join  their 
regiments,  was  a  never  failing  source  of  amuse- 
ment. They  usually  went  out  on  foot,  but  returned 
mounted  or  in  carriages,  in  all  styles,  from  a 
creaking,  rickety  cart  with  a  single  mule  or  steer  in 
rope  traces,  to  a  grand  coupe  with  a  blooded  pair 
in  silver  mounted  harness.  The  officer  in  charge 
was  always  instructed  to  permit  no  wanton  de- 
struction of  property,  nor  firing  of  buildings,  nor 


162  THK  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

abuse  of  people  at  their  homes,  ami  as  far  as  is 
known  to  the  writer  these  instructions  were 
observed  by  our  details,  but  in  many  cases,  no 
doubt,  soldiers  who  were  unrestrained  by  instruc- 
tions or  discipline  were  guilty  of  plundering  and 
cruelty,  not  to  be  justified  even  in  war,  though 
such  acts  could  not  always  be  prevented  by  those 
in  authority. 

During  this  march  it  was  the  rule,  as  it  was  in 
all  other  marches,  that  ever\r  man  should  keep  his 
place  in  the  column,  straggling  being  in  our  regi- 
ment absolutely  forbidden  ;  this  for  three  reasons ; 
first,  for  his  own  safety,  for  the  straggler  was 
liable  to  be  captured  or  killed,  as  many  were,  by 
the  enemy's  cavalry,  which  always  followed  and 
hung  around  our  rear  and  flanks;  second,  for  his 
own  good,  that  he  might  arrive  in  camp  and  get 
his  supper  and  rest  with  his  comrades,  rather  than 
to  fall  out,  get  behind  and  then  have  to  travel 
alone  far  into  the  night,  perhaps,  to  find  his  regi- 
ment; and  third  and  chiefly,  for  the  sake  of  good 
order  and  discipline — that  in  any  emergency,  always 
to  be  expected  and  prepared  for  in  war,  the  regi- 
ment should  be  ready  in  full  strength,  every  man 
in  his  place. 

It  was  a  custom  of  the  regimental  commander 
to  look  personally  to  the  observance  of  this  rule, 
and  in  the  performance  .of  this  duty  he  noticed 
one  day  one  of  the  recruits  who,  loaded  with  his 
gun  and  forty  rounds,  his  canteen,  haversack, 
blankets  and  -a  big  knapsack,  was  bravely  tip- 
toeing along  on  his  sore  feet  with  his  company. 
A  word  of  encouragement  to  him  brought  forth 


THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  163 

the  response  "the  spirit  indeed  is  willing  but  the 
flesh  is  weak,"  yet  he  hoped  to  keep  his  place,  for 
he  well  knew  it  was  easier  and  better  to  keep  up 
than  to  fall  out  and  get  behind  and  then  have  to 
catch  up.  This  prompted  an  inquiry  of  his  captain, 
who  said  that  the  man  was  private  Levi  Gleason, 
a  Methodist  minister,  a  drafted  man,  a  good 
soldier  and  a  pleasant  good  fellow  and  comrade. 

He  was  called  to  headquarters  one  evening  soon 
afterwards,  and  invited,  the  regiment  having  no 
chaplain,  to  preach  to  us  at  the  next  convenient 
opportunity.  He  excused  himself  for  want  of 
preparation,  but  finally  consented,  and  on  the  first 
Sabbath  of  rest  in  camp  the  regiment  assembled  at 
the  "church  call"  at  the  Colonel's  tent.  The 
opening  exercises  were  in  the  usual  form,  many  of 
the  men  joining  in  singing  the  familiar  hymns; 
then  private  Gleason  announced  his  text,  "See  that 
ye  fall  not  out  by  the  way,"  and  gave  us  an 
earnest,  practical  discourse,  so  appropriate  and  so 
illustrated  by  the  common  experience  of  his  hearers 
that  it  "warmed  the  boys  up  for  good,"  as  one  of 
them  expressed  it. 

Milledgeville,  then  the  capital  city  of  Georgia, 
was  an  ancient,  aristocratic  place  with  handsomely 
shaded  streets  and  dwellings,  but  it  wore  an  air 
of  quiet  decadence  and  lack  of  enterprise.  The 
legislature  had  hastily  adjourned  the  day  before 
our  arrival,  and  the  Governor  had  departed  with 
the  members.  Gen.  Sherman  occupied  the  executive 
mansion  with  army  headquarters,  while  some  of 
our  officers  assembled  at  the  capitol  and  reorgan- 
ized the  legislature,  repealed  the  ordinance  of 


164  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

secession  and  adopted  a  preamble  and  resolution 
declaring  the  loyalty  of  the  State  of  Georgia  to 
the  Union.  All  these  proceedings  being  approved 
by  the  provisional  governor  and  duly  spread  upon 
the  journals  of  the  two  houses,  the  improvised 
legislature  adjourned,  to  meet  successively  in  the 
capitals  of  South  Carolina,  North  Carolina  and 
Virginia. 

On  the  25th  of  November  we  crossed  the  Oconee 
river,  and  next  day  reached  Sandersville.  On  the 
27th  we  crossed  the  Ogeechee  river,  and  on  the 
28th  arrived  at  Louisville,  where  we  remained  two 
days  awaiting  some  movements  by  the  other  corps. 
The  enemy's  cavalry,  under  Gen.  Wheeler,  had  been 
very  active  of  late,  burning  all  the  bridges  ahead 
of  our  column  and  annoying  and  capturing  our 
foragers  whenever  they  could  be  taken  by  surprise. 
We  could  pontoon  the  streams  \vithout  much 
delay,  but  did  not  want  our  foraging  interfered 
with ;  so  Kilpatrick  was  ordered  to  punish  and 
drive  away  the  offenders,  and  our  (Baird's)  division 
was  sent  along  to  support  him.  Some  lively 
skirmishing  occurred  during  the  next  three  or  four 
days  between  the  opposing  cavalry  forces,  but 
they  kept  out  of  the  way  of  our  infantry,  generally, 
and  we  didn't  get  much  fun  out  of  the  campaign. 
On  the  4th  we  drove  the  enemy  through  and 
beyond  Waynesboro,  and  then  turned  southeasterly, 
and  on  the  5th  encamped  at  Alexander.  Now 
followed  several  days  of  unpleasant  weather, 
obstructed  roads  and  slow  progress,  with  continued 
annoyance  and  skirmishing  with  the  enemy's 
cavalry.  On  the  8th  we  had  quite  a  brush  with 


THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  165 

them,  in  which  private  George  Boyson,  of  Company 
"K,"  was  mortally  wounded.  This  day  we  crossed 
the  Ebenezer  creek  as  rear  guard,  and  were  closely 
pressed  by  the  enemy  while  our  bridge  was  being 
taken  up.  On  the  10th  we  destroyed  a  section  of 
the  Charleston  and  Savannah  railroad,  including  a 
portion  of  the  trestle  bridge  at  the  west  bank  of  the 
Savannah  river.  Now  we  had  left  behind  us  the  fine 
agricultural  country  of  central  Georgia,  abounding 
in  corn,  hogs,  cattle  and  sweet  potatoes;  had  also 
passed  through  a  level  section  of  sandy  pine  lands, 
almost  destitute  of  population,  improvements  or 
provisions,  and  found  ourselves  among  the  rice 
plantations  of  the  Savannah  river  and  coast  region. 
The  rice  crop  had  been  harvested  and  the  thresh- 
ing and  hulling  mills  were  in  operation.  These 
were  fired  by  the  enemy  at  our  approach,  but  our 
cavalry  saved  one  of  the  threshing  mills  in  the 
vicinity  of  our  division,  the  hulling  machinery 
being  destroyed.  So  for  six  or  seven  days  we  had 
rice  in  abundance,  issued  to  the  troops  "with  the 
bark  on."  We  had  rice  for  breakfast,  rice  for 
dinner,  rice  for  supper  and  rice  the  next  day 
and  the  next.  Rice  for  the  soldiers,  for  the  horses, 
for  the  negroes  and  for  the  mules,  and  for  every- 
body. The  boys  exhausted  their  ingenuity  in  con- 
triving various  ways  of  hulling  and  cooking  it,  but 
it  was  always  rice,  and  we  got  so  sick  of  it  that 
some  of  us  have  never  eaten  any  of  the  stuff  since. 
We  were  very  glad  when  our  regiment  was  ordered 
out  on  the  16th  on  a  foraging  expedition,  which 
promised  at  least  a  temporar\'  change  of  diet.  We 
went  out  in  a  southwesterlv  direction  and  loaded 


166  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

our  train  with  forage;  got  a  few  cattle  and  some 
miscellaneous  provisions,  all  there  was  in  the 
country,  and  returned  on  the  19th;  were  shelled 
by  one  of  the  enemy's  batteries  at  a  discance  on 
our  return,  and  private  Stevens,  of  Company  "H," 
was  wounded.  A  wide  flooded  rice  field  between 
us  and  the  battery  made  it  inaccessible  to  us,  so 
we  had  to  leave  it  behind,  much  to  our  regret. 

Meanwhile,  Fort  McAllister  had  been  captured 
by  Hazen's  division  on  the  12th,  opening  communi- 
cation with  our  fleet,  and  on  our  return  we  found 
40  days'  accumulated  mail  in  our  camp  and 
two  or  three  days  later,  provisions  and  supplies 
came  in  from  the  fleet  b\-  transports ;  among  these 
supplies  nothing  was  so  welcome  as  the  Irish  pota- 
toes, of  which  we  had  seen  none  in  the  past  six 
weeks.  On  the  night  of  the  20th  the  enemy  evacu- 
ated Savannah  and  some  of  our  forces  entered  it  at 
daybreak  on  the  21st.  Our  brigade,  however,  en- 
camped in  a  pleasant  field  about  a  mile  from  the 
line  of  defences  constructed  by  the  enemy  about  the 
city,  and  our  officers  and  men  were  permitted  to 
visit  the  city  and  explore  the  country  about  it. 
Some  of  them  discovered  that  the  oyster  beds  below 
the  city  had  been  between  the  guns  of  the  blockad- 
ing fleet  and  the  enemy's  shore  batteries  for  two 
years  and  thus  had  not  been  fished.  A  detail  of 
men  with  six  big  army  wagons  were  sent  down 
there  and  returned  on  Christmas  Eve  with  several 
hundred  bushels  of  the  big  and  luscious  oysters 
to  enrich  our  Christmas  dinner. 

Christmas  came  on  Sunday  and  Private  Gleason 
preached  for  us  again.  About  this  time  a  request 


THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  167 

for  his  discharge,  signed  by  the  Presiding  Elder  and 
other  clergymen  of  the  Minnesota  Conference,  ad- 
dressed to  the  Secretary  of  War,  was  by  that 
authority  referred  to  his  regimental  commander  for 
his  opinion  and  report  thereon.  Now,  it  was  refered 
to  Private  Gleason  for  his  remarks.  They  were  to 
the  effect  that  he  believed  that  in  his  conscription 
his  place  and  field  of  duty  had  been  by  the  Divine 
Ruler  indicated  to  him,  that  he  had  found  ample 
opportunity  in  it  to  serve  Him  and  do  good  to  his 
fellows,  and  that  grateful  to  his  friends  for  their 
kind  efforts  in  his  behalf,  he  did  not  desire  his  dis- 
charge until  the  war  should  end.  Then  the  paper 
was  returned  to  the  Secretary  of  War  and,  quite 
unexpectedly  to  him,  Private  Gleason  was  appointed 
Chaplain  of  the  regiment,  an  office  he  filled  most 
acceptably  to  the  final  discharge  of  the  regiment. 

On  the  27th  of  December  the  14th  corps  passed 
in  review  before  Gen.  Sherman  in  the  city  of  Savan- 
nah. Our  regiment  was  especially  complimented  by 
him  as  it  well  deserved,  and  a  few  days  later  was 
ordered  into  the  city,  and  put  in  charge  of  the  yard 
and  shops  and  other  property  of  the  Central  Rail- 
road. The  officers  occupied  the  general  office  build- 
ing and  the  regiment  was  housed  in  the  great  freight 
warehouse  adjoining  the  yards. 

Here,  with  daily  drills  and  dress*  parades  in  the 
park-like  streets,  and  with  guard  and  patrol  duty, 
we  had  a  pleasant  though  busy  tour  of  service. 

Information  was  here  received  of  the  assignment 
of  two  detachments  of  recruits  from  Fort  Snelling 
to  our  regiment,  one  of  which  had  been  forwarded 
as  far  as  Nashville,  and  there  detained  by  Gen. 


168  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Thomas  until  after  the  battles  of  the  15th  and  16th 
of  December,  in  which  our  recruits  participated,  and 
Maj.  C.  S.  Uline  was  sent  to  find  and  bring  them 
to  the  regiment.  This  he  did  with  all  possible  ex- 
pedition, but  we  left  Savannah  before  his  return 
and  he  joined  us  later  at  Goklsboro,  X.  C.  (See 
Appendix  No.  26. ) 


CHAPTER    XIII. 
SAVANNAH    TO    RALEIGH. 

On  the  23rd  of  January,  1865,  we  commenced 
the  "Campaign  of  the  Carolinas,"  no  less  famous 
in  hist  or}'  than  "The  March  to  the  Sea.'-' 

Of  these  campaigns  the  following  general  re- 
marks, by  way  of  comparison,  may  be  permitted. 
The  march  through  Georgia  was  made  in  the  forty 
days  commencing  the  12th  of  November  at  Kings- 
ton and  ending  with  the  evacuation  of  Savannah 
on  the  21st  of  December.  This  was,  in  that  country, 
the  most  agreeable  and  every  way  the  most  favor- 
able season  of  the  year  for  such  a  campaign.  The 
weather  was  generally  delightful,  the  roads  in  good 
condition,  the  streams  running  parallel  with  our 
course,  were  always  within  their  banks  and  easily 
forded  or  bridged,  and  the  bountiful  harvest,  being- 
just  over,  there  was  abundance  of  provisions  and 
forage  on  every  plantation.  The  march  was  more- 
over a  surprise  to  the  enemy,  from  which  he  did 
not  recover  in  time  to  give  us  any  serious  opposition. 


SAVANNAH  TO  RALEIGH.  169 

The  Carolina  campaign  comprised  the  sixty-three 
days  ending  with  the  arrival  at  Goldsboro,  March 
23rd,  including  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  on  the 
20th.  This  was  the  winter  season  of  cold  rains, 
with  occasional  snows,  and  the  roads  were  usually 
bad ;  sometimes  impassable  for  loaded  wagons  and 
artillery  until  they  had  been  corduroyed  bv  the 
troops.  The  streams  were  full,  often  overflowing 
their  banks,  and  as  they  crossed  our  course  at  right 
angles,  much  time  and  labor  had  to  be  spent  in 
bridging  them.  The  enemy  had  meantime  collected, 
under  active  commanders,  quite  a  formidable  and 
well  organized  force,  and  disputed  our  crossing  at 
every  stream,  and  harrassed  and  captured  our  for- 
agers at  every  opportunity.  The  surplus  provisions 
and  forage  had,  moreover,  during  the  winter,  been 
gathered  and  sent  to  Lee's  army  in  Virginia  or  had 
been  consumed  on  the  plantations,  and  it  required 
active  work  for  a  detail  of  thirty  men  to  gather 
daily  the  supplies  of  food  for  the  regiment.  In  the 
Georgia  campaign  there  had  been  but  little  bitter- 
ness of  feeling  toward  us  displayed  by  the  people 
at  home  there  and  but  little  wanton  destruction  or 
waste  of  property  by  the  soldiers ;  in  the  Carolinas, 
and  especially  in  South  Carolina,  the  bummers  had 
to  hunt  and  fight  for  everything  they  got,  and  they 
left  nothing  behind  them  that  they  could  burn 
or  carry  off.  In  the  interest  of  discipline  as  well  as 
of  humanity  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  detail,  made 
daily  from  our  regiment,  was  always  instructed  not 
to  burn  buildings  or  abuse  the  resident  people  or  to 
take  or  destroy  property  not  needed  for  our  own 
use,  and  it  is  the  writer's  belief  that  his  men  had 


170  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

but  small  part  in  the  cruel  and  wanton  devastation 
that  marked  the  pathway  of  the  army  across  that 
state. 

But  to  resume  our  narrative  within  its  proper 
limits,  our  regiment  marched  out  of  their  comfort- 
able quarters  at  the  Central  Railroad  depot  at  7  A.M. 
on  the  20th,  and  at  10  o'clock  encamped  at  Chero- 
kee Hill,  eight  miles  out  on  the  Augusta  road,  by 
which  we  had  approached  the  city  a  month  earlier. 
We  left  this  camp  on  the  25th,  and  bridging  and 
crossing  one  branch  of  Ebenezer  Creek  on  the  26th 
and  another  on  the  27th,  passing  that  day  through 
the  pretty  village  of  Springfield,  we  encamped  on 
the  28th  near  Sister's  Ferry  on  the  Savannah  river, 
about  forty  miles  above  the  city.  Here  we  remained 
a  week  while  a  pontoon  bridge  was  being  thrown 
across  the  river  and  a  corduroy  road  built  across 
the  wide  and  overflowed  bottom  lands  on  the  South 
Carolina  side,  and  while  trains  and  artillery  were 
being  crossed.  On  the  5th  of  February  we  marched 
over  and,  encamping  three  miles  from  the  bridge, 
waited  there  while  it  was  being  taken  up  on  the 
6th ;  next  day  we  passed  through  the  smouldering 
ruins  of  Robertsville  and  Brighton,  which  had  been 
burned  the  day  before  by  our  own  troops  ahead 
of  us.  Our  course  now  lay  west  of  north,  parallel 
to  and  a  few  miles  distant  from  the  Savannah 
River  until  the  10th,  when  we  turned  a  little  to  the 
right  and,  crossing  the  Salkehatchie  River,  arrived 
at  Barnwell  Court  House.  Our  brigade  had  the 
advance  to-day,  and  as  we  came  in  sight  of  the 
village  an  order  was  received  from  corps  head- 
quarters for  our  regiment  to  encamp  therein  and 


SAVANNAH  TO  RALEIGH.  171 

prevent  any  firing  of  buildings  or  any  molestation 
of  the  inhabitants.  As  every  house  in  sight  of  our 
march  from  Sister's  Ferry  had  been  burned,  with 
no  attempt  to  restrain  or  prevent  the  lawless  de- 
struction, it  seemed  that  a  difficult  duty  had  been 
assigned  to  us.  Our  pace  was  quickened,  and  as 
we  entered  the  village  in  advance  of  all  other  troops, 
guards  \vere  stationed  at  all  the  houses  and  the 
bummers  and  stragglers  were  admonished  as  they 
came  up  to  keep  in  the  streets  and  move  on.  They 
were  greatly  surprised  at  this  unexpected  restraint, 
and  some  of  them  were  not  disposed  to  submit  to 
it,  but  no  serious  resistance  was  made,  and  by  sunset 
the  village  was  as  quiet  and  peaceful  as  "Could  be 
desired.  One  commissioned  officer  who  had  joined 
the  bummers  announced  his  purpose  to  burn  the 
town  anyhow  and  "he  would  like  to  see  the  guards 
that  would  stop  him."  He  thought  better  of  it, 
however,  and  halted  and  sneaked  off  before  a 
guard's  levelled  musket,  just  in  time  to  save  his  life. 
We  remained  here  until  noon  next  day,  when,  our 
corps  having  passed  on,  we  were  ordered  to  follow. 
Before  we  were  half  a  mile  away  the  village  was 
on  fire  in  a  dozen  places,  and  was  no  doubt  totally 
destroyed. 

On  the  12th  we  reached  the  Augusta  &  Charles- 
town  Railroad,  twenty-four  miles  east  of  Augusta. 
Here  we  turned  eastward,  and  spent  most  of  the 
afternoon  in  destroying  the  track  and  bridges.  This 
work  was  resumed  next  morning.  In  the  afternoon 
we  marched  about  ten  miles  northerly,  to  Davis' 
Mills,  on  the  South  Edisto  river,  our  brigade  being 
rear  guard  of  the  14th  corps.  Next  morning,  the 


172  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

14th,  we  crossed  the  river  and  burned  the  bridge 
behind  us.  Then  marched  seventeen  miles  to  the 
North  Edisto.  On  the  15th  we  crossed  Congaree 
creek,  at  Clark's  Mills.  The  roads  were  bad  and 
we  had  considerable  work  in  corduroying  the  soft 
places  and  helping  the  heavy  wagons  out  of  the 
mud.  Next  day  we  crossed  Twelve  Mile  Creek,  and 
passed  through  the  smoking  ruins  of  Lexington 
Court  House.  On  the  17th  we  waited  in  camp  all 
the  forenoon,  while  the  troops  and  trains  ahead  of 
us,  crossed  the  Saluda  river,  which  was  a  \vide, 
swift  and  muddy  stream,  and  had  been  bridged  by 
our  pontoniers.  We  marched  about  5  p.  M.  over 
the  swaying  bridge  and  on  into  the  night.  The 
wind  was  blowing  hard  and  the  whole  country 
seemed  on  fire.  Columbia,  six  miles  away,  lighted 
up  the  eastern  sky,  and  the  woods  and  the  fences 
and  buildings  and  the  stacks  of  straw  and  forage 
were  everywhere  ablaze.  Along  the  road  were 
some  "deadening"  fields  in  which  the  pine  trees 
had  been  killed  by  girdling  and  left  to  decay  stand- 
ing, while  the  ground  was  tilled  beneath  them.  The 
fire  would  climb  these  dead  trees,  following  streaks 
of  turpentine  or  pitch  and  running  out  the  great 
bare  limbs,  would  find  the  fat  pitchy  knots  and 
there  burst  out  in  flaming  torches  that  seemed  to 
be  suspended  in  the  sky  with  no  visible  support.  In 
some  of  the  regiments  that  had  encamped  in  one  of 
these  deadenings,  some  of  the  men  were  seriously 
hurt  by  the  falling  of  limbs  that  had  been  burned 
off  the  trees  over  them  Columbia  was  occupied 
to-day  by  the  15th  corps,  and  we  hear  they  made 
a  lively  night  of  it  there.  On  the  18th  our  march 


SAVANNAH  TO  RALEIGH.  173 

was  resumed  but  was  slow  and  tedious,  most  of 
the  time  being  spent  in  corduroying  the  bottomless 
roads  and  extricating  the  wagons  from  the  mud 
holes.  At  night  we  encamped  near  the  Broad  river, 
opposite  Alston,  which  was  an  important  railroad 
junction,  about  twenty-five  miles  north-west  of 
Columbia.  Next  morning,  Sunday,  we  crossed  the 
river  and  destroyed  several  miles  of  railroad  track 
and  burned  a  train  of  cars  and  a  depot;  then 
attended  divine  service  in  camp  in  the  afternoon. 
On  Monday  we  marched  northward  to  Monticello, 
and  on  Tuesday  eastward  to  Winnsboro,  on  the 
Columbia  &  Chester  railroad.  Wednesday,  the 
22nd.  we  tackled  the  railroad  again  and  dissected 
four  or  five  miles  of  it. 

Our  course  for  a  few  days  had  been  through  a 
fine  productive  country,  and  forage  and  provisions 
had  been  plentiful.  On  the  23rd  we  moved  east- 
ward about  fifteen  miles  to  the  Catawba  River  at 
Rocky  Mount,  where  our  pontoniers  were  laying  a 
bridge.  The  stream  was  wide  and  full  from  the 
recent  rains,  and  the  current  rapid  and  swirly.  It 
required  all  the  available  bridge  equipment,  and 
moreover  was  a  work  of  great  difficulty  to  span  the 
river  with  a  safe  and  adequate  structure.  The  20th 
corps  had  hardly  crossed  ahead  of  us  when  the 
bridge  was  broken  by  driftwood  floating  down  the 
river.  The  next  three  days  were  spent  in  replacing 
it  and  making  and  keeping  it  as  secure  as  possi- 
ble, while  a  crew  of  men  in  boats  were  put  in  the 
river  above  it  to  intercept  the  drift  wood  and  tow 
it  to  the  shore.  Meantime  it  rained  nearly  all  the 
time,  and  the  roads  as  well  as  the  streams  were 


174  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

getting  worse.  Our  troops  and  trains  had,  how- 
ever, been  crossing  at  such  times  as  the  bridge 
seemed  safe,  and  at  7  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the 
27th  our  turn  as  the  rear  brigade  came  to  cross. 
We  lighted  our  precarious  way  with  pitch  pine 
torches  as  we  moved  down  the  narrow,  winding 
bottomless  road  to  the  west  bank,  and  gingerly 
walked  over  the  slender,  swaying  chain  of  canvass 
boats,  and  then  up  the  slippery  hill  on  the  eastern 
shore,  where  we  halted  and  waited  for  daylight. 
We  had  been  delayed  here  several  days,  and  Sher- 
man, who  was  ahead  with  the  20th  corps,  was 
getting  impatient.  The  rains  continued,  but  noth- 
ing could  now  make  the  roads  any  worse  than 
the  23rd  corps  had  left  them  after  the  passage  of 
its  trains  and  artillery.  WTe  commenced  at  day- 
break, now  cutting  a  new  parallel  road  through 
the  woods  and  now  corduroying  the  old  one,  as 
one  or  the  other  seemed  best,  and  by  working  hard 
all  day  forwarded  our  train  three  or  four  miles 
while  the  pontoniers  were  taking  up  the  bridge. 
Next  day,  March  1st,  we  made  15  miles,  encamping 
near  Hanging  Rock  battleground,  where  Sumpter 
and  Tarleton  met  in  the  Revolutionarv  War.  On 

*f 

the  4th  we  crossed  the  line  into  North  Carolina, 
and  on  the  5th  encamped  near  the  Great  Pedee 
river  at  Sneadsboro  The  six  days'  march  between 
the  two  rivers,  \viih  continuous  rain  and  mud,  had 
been  the  most  uncomfortable  and  fatiguing  of  the 
whole  campaign,  and  we  were  not  sorry  to  have 
one  pleasant  day  in  camp  while  the  bridge  was 
being  thrown  across  the  stream.  At  intervals  we 
heard  explosions  down  the  river,  and  wondered 


SAVANNAH  TO  RALEIGH.  175 

whether  the  15th  and  17th  corps  were  having  a 
battle  at  Cheraw,  or,  as  we  afterwards  learned, 
were  burning  some  captured  ordnance  stores. 

On  the  17th,  the  bridge  having  been  completed, 
we  crossed  the  river  at  noon,  and  then  the  rain 
commenced  again  and  continued  for  three  days 
more.  Our  route  lay  through  the  piney  country  of 
North  Carolina,  whose  products,  as  our  child's 
geographies  had  told  us,  were  pitch,  tar,  rosin, 
turpentine  and  lumber.  The  bummers,  as  usual, 
set  fire  to  everything  that  would  burn,  and  our 
division  arriving  one  day  at  a  stream  swollen 
bank  full,  found  its  surface  covered  with  flames 
and  the  bridge  burning.  A  turpentine  factory  a 
little  way  up  the  stream  was  on  fire,  and  several 
hundred  barrels  of  burning  tar  and  melted  rosin 
had  flowed  into  the  water  and  spread  over  the  full 
width  of  the  stream,  making  it  impossible  to  cross 
or  even  to  approach  it.  So  we  bivouacked  until 
the  burning  stream  cooled  off  enough  to  permit 
our  reconstruction  of  the  bridge.  This  incident 
delayed  the  division  five  or  six  hours,  and  we  had 
to  make  it  up  after  we  got  started  again.  On  the 
10th  our  brigade  had  the  lead  of  the  army,  and, 
as  we  came  in  sight  of  Fayetteville,  found  the 
enemy  in  our  front.  Our  progress  was  disputed 
for  several  miles,  without,  however,  much  delaying 
us,  and  we  entered  the  city  about  11  A.  M.,  driving 
the  enemy's  rear  guard  into  and  through  and 
beyond  it,  saving  the  bridge  over  Cape  Fear  river 
by  a  lively  skirmish  and  a  race  for  it. 

Next  day  a  boat  arrived  from  Wilmington  with 
dispatches  for  Sherman.    Our  regiment  was  detailed 


17G  THE  STOKY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

for  provost  guard  and  made  responsible  for  good 
order  and  protection  of  persons  and  property  of  the 
residents  during  our  occupation  of  the  place.  We 
had  a  pleasant  tour  of  duty  here  with  good 
\veather  and  some  rest.  The  old  U.  S.  arsenal 
which  had  been  in  operation  for  the  past  four 
years  making  ordinance  stores  for  the  Confederate 
army  was,  by  Gen.  Sherman's  order,  destroyed  ; 
the  buildings  razed  and  the  expensive  machinery 
broken  up. 

On  the  15th  our  regimental  commander  received 
orders  to  burn  a  large  cotton  factory  and  ware- 
house in  the  city  which  had  been  manufacturing 
goods  for  the  C.  S.  army,  and  this  was  done,  to 
the  infinite  sorrow  of  the  throng  of  girls  and  other 
operatives  who  witnessed  it.  On  the  16th  the 
movement  of  the  army  towards  Goldsboro  com- 
menced, and  the  laborious  mending  of  roads  and 
boosting  of  wagons  was  resumed  and  continued 
until  we  encountered  the  enemy  in  force  at  Benton- 
ville  on  the  20th.  Our  brigade  was  but  lighth' 
engaged  here,  but  behaved  gallantly,  our  regiment 
losing  two  men  wounded.  Remaining  on  the  battle- 
field one  day,  our  march  was  resumed  on  the  22nd, 
and  next  day  we  crossed  the  Neuse  river  and 
encamped  at  Goldsboro.  Here  we  found  Gens. 
Terry  and  Scofield  with  the  10th  and  23rd  corps, 
all  resplendent  in  new  uniforms  and  well  supplied 
with  camp  equipage  and  regulation  arm}-  rations. 
Our  army,  in  the  sixty-three  days  of  hard  cam- 
paigning, with  no  opportunity  to  draw  new  cloth- 
ing or  even  mend  what  we  wore,  had  come  to 
that  condition  when  a  general  change  of  dress  and 


SAVANNAH  TO  RALEIGH.  177 

a  chance  to  wash  off  the  tar  smoke  was  eminently 
desirable.  Moreover,  understanding  that  we  were 
to  rest  a  few  days  at  Goldsboro,  our  foraging 
details  had  been  instructed  that  day  to  provide  as 
large  a  supply  of  miscellaneous  provisions  as 
possible,  and  they  had  been  unusually  successful, 
every  regiment  having  at  its  head  the  motley 
cavalcade  of  bummers  and  their  equipage  well 
laden  with  assorted  plunder.  As  we  approached 
the  city,  orders  came  to  close  up  the  column  and 
prepare  to  pass  in  review  before  Gens.  Scofield  and 
Terry,  to  whom  Sherman,  Slocum  and  Howard 
proposed  to  exhibit  the  army  of  which  they  were  so 
justly  proud.  It  may  be  supposed  that  our  own 
commanders,  in  thinking  of  the  splendid  achieve- 
ments of  the  army,  had  quite  forgotten  the 
condition  it  was  now  in,  and  that  its  appearance 
as  the  column  passed  the  reviewing  stand  was  a 
surprise  to  them  as  well  as  to  the  distinguished 
officers  invited  to  review  us.  At  all  events  the  "re- 
view "  was  abruptly  discontinued  after  the  first  two 
or  three  brigades  had  passed,  and  we  went  on  to 
our  camps  without  further  ceremony.  After  a  day's 
rest  in  camp  our  regiment  was  ordered  out  six  miles 
from  Goldsboro  to  guard  and  operate  a  grist  mill,  in 
which  vocation  we  acquitted  ourselves  creditably,  as 
usual.  Next  da}'  we  received  a  mail,  the  first  since 
the  5th  of  February,  and  supplies  of  clothing,  ammu- 
nition and  army  rations  of  food  were  issued  to  the 
men.  On  the  31st  a  military  execution  took  place 
in  another  division  of  our  corps,  the  troops  being 
paraded  under  arms  to  witness  the  sad  ceremony. 
Without  any  previous  notice,  our  regiment  was 


12 


178  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

carefully  and  thoroughly  inspected  on  the  1st  day 
of  April,  by  an  officer  from  corps  headquarters. 
He  commended  everything  but  the  band.  He  com- 
mended this  also ;  with  their  silver  horns  and 
magnificent  music,  but  he  reminded  the  command- 
ing officer  that  regimental  bands  had  long  since 
been  abolished,  and  he  would  have  to  report  this 
one  to  the  corps  commander  as  unauthorized.  It 
had  to  be  explained  to  him  that  these  men  were 
only  the  authorized  company  musicians,  and  not  a 
band  at  all,  though  the  appearance  might  be  to  the 
contrary,  and  he  duly  verified  the  explanation  by 
examination  of  the  muster  rolls.  Then  he  said  that 
the  corps  commander  (Gen.  J.  C.  Davis)  had  often 
observed  those  men  and  mistaken  them  for  a  band, 
and  suggested  that  to  undeceive  him  they  should 
play  at  corps  headquarters  that  afternoon,  which 
they  did,  and  were  highly  complimented  as  "com- 
pany musicians."  Let  it  be  here  said  that  this 
band,  since  its  first  organization  at  Tuscumbia, 
Ala.,  in  the  summer  of  1862,  had  been  under  the 
same  discipline  as  the  companies  had  been,  always 
having  equal  hours  of  drill  and  practice,  always 
marching  in  their  places  at  the  head  of  the  regi- 
ment, and  always  ready  to  play  the  regiment  out 
of  camp  and  from  a  halt,  and  when  in  camp  the 
dress  parade  and  the  concert  at  retreat  were  never 
omitted  in  good  weather.  , 

On  the  3rd  of  April,  Maj.  Uline  rejoined  the 
regiment  with  80  recruits  from  Minnesota,  whose 
names  filled  up -our  rolls  to  the  number  required  to 
entitle  the  regiment  to  a  Colonel,  so  on  the  same 
day  Lieut.  Col.  J.  W.  Bishop,  who,  nine  months 


SAVANNAH  TO  RALEIGH.  179 

before,  had  been  commissioned  Colonel,  was  must- 
ered   as    such,    and    Maj.  Uline    was    mustered    as 
Lieutenant    Colonel,   and  Capt.  John    Moulton  as 
Major.    Next    day    our    division  was    reviewed  by 
Gen.   Scofield,   who  had  for  a  time  commanded  the 
division  in  which  it  was  included  at  Triune,  Tenn., 
in  the  spring  of  1863.      He    personally    congratu- 
lated   the    Colonel    on    his    new  rank  and    on   the 
splendid  appearance  of  his  regiment.    On  the  9th 
Sergt.  Kelsey  reported  with  59  more  recruits  which 
had  been  forwarded  from  Minnesota  in  November, 
'64,   and  had    spent    the    winter   in    Gen.  Thomas' 
command    at    Nashville,    Tenn.      On    the    10th    of 
April  our    army    was    again    in    motion,    towards 
Raleigh,  our  brigade  leading  the  army  of  Georgia 
twelve  miles  to  Springfield,   driving  the  enemy  be- 
fore us  all  day.     They  fired  the  bridge  over  Neuse 
river  as  they  crossed  it,  and  as  it  had    been  well 
prepared  with  tar  and  pitch  for  burning,  we  were 
unable    to    save  it.    Next  morning  we  received  the 
news    of    the    surrender    of  Lee's    army,    and    the 
camps    resounded    with   cheers.     Johnston's    army 
was,  however,  yet  before  us,  and  we  went  for  him 
again,  moving  him  back  towards    Raleigh    twelve 
miles  more,  to  Clayton.    Next  day  we  had  a  skir- 
mish fight  all    the  way  to    Raleigh,    fifteen    miles, 
arriving  there  at  noon.    Our  regiment  was  at  once 
placed  in  charge  of  the  state  insane  asylum  there, 
and    encamped    in    the    ample   grounds,    placing    a 
chain  of  guards  about  it  to  keep  away  the  bum- 
mers,"   who     were     ready     to     turn    out     the     in- 
mates, sane    or  insane,   without    discrimination  or 
formality. 


THE  STORY  OK  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

After  a  day's  rest  here  we  marched  again  on  the 
15th  six  miles  to  Holly  Springs  and  next  day  six 
miles  further  toward  Durham  Station.  We  remained 
in  this  vicinity  during  the  ten  days  occupied  in  the 
first,  and  the  final  negotiations  for  the  surrender 
of  Johnston's  army,  which  took  place  at  Durham 
on  the  26th,  and  of  which  we  were  formally  in- 
formed on  the  27th. 

We  cannot  here  discuss  the  terms  of  capitulation 
first  offered  to  Sherman  and  accepted  by  Johnston 
and  disapproved  at  Washington,  nor  the  trouble 
among  high  officers  that  grew  out  of  them.  It  may 
perhaps  be  said  that  Sherman  with  his  splendid 
army  at  his  back  and  his  old  enemy  before  him, 
starved,  demoralized  and  at  his  mercy,  was  too 
generous,  but  what  can  be  said  in  extenuation  of 
the  treatment  accorded  to  Sherman  by  the  Secretary 
of  War  and  by  Halleck,  whose  puerile  attempt  to 
belittle  Sherman  and  magnify  himself  is  an  illustra- 
tion of  mean  selfishness  in  high  authority  that, 
•were  it  not  in  the  authentic  record  over  his  own 
signature,  would  hardly  be  credited. 

But  now  the  campaign  was  over  without  serious 
bloodshed  and  our  rejoicing  was  unbounded.  The 
paroling  of  the  surrendered  men  was  assigned  to 
Gen.  Schofield  and  we  returned  bv  easv  marches  to 

•>>  J 

the  vicinity  of  Raleigh,  encamping  Saturday,  the 
29th,  at  Page's  Station,  a  short  distance  west  of 
the  citv. 


RICHMOND,  WASHINGTON  AND  HOME.  181 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
RICHMOND,  WASHINGTON  AND  HOME. 

With  the  surrender  of  Johnston's  army  the  war, 
so  far  as  we  were  concerned,  was  substantially  over, 
and  we  all  knew  that  a  few  weeks,  more  or  less, 
would  emancipate  us  from  the  restraints  of  military 
service  and  restore  us  to  the  peaceful  avocations  of 
civil  life. 

Orders  were  received  on  Sunday,  the  30th  of 
April,  to  "prepare  for  a  comfortable  and  leisurely 
march  to  Richmond."  The  troops  were  to  carry 
only  ten  rounds  of  cartridges,  all  surplus  stores, 
ammunition  and  supplies  being  turned  in  for  storage 
and  we  were  notified  that  we  would  be  expected  at 
Richmond  about  the  10th  of  May,  which  would 
make  our  march  about  16  miles  a  day.  This,  for  a 
veteran  army  homeward  bound,  with  good  roads, 
good  weather  and  no  enemy  in  the  way,  was  easy 
enough.  The  march  was  to  commence  on  Monday, 
the  1st  of  May,  but  on  Sunday  morning,  under 
the  pretence  of  changing  the  troops  to  more  eligible 
camps,  the  Fourteenth  corps  was  led  out  about  16 
miles  and  encamped  at  3  P.  M.  The  remainder 
of  the  afternoon  was  spent  in  mustering  the  men 
and  preparing  the  pay  rolls  (which  had  to  be  done 
on  the  last  day  of  every  second  month)  to  the  ex- 
clusion of  divine  service.  The  Fourteenth  and 
Twentieth  corps  were  to  march  on  parallel  roads 
and  there  were  suggestions  that  a  racing  match 
had  been  arranged  between  the  corps  commanders, 


182  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

which,  if  true,  was  foolish,  cruel  and  unjustifiable, 
and  if  it  was  not  true,  the  hard  marching  of  the 
next  six  days  has  never  been  reasonably  explained 
to  our  knowledge. 

On  the  1st  of  May  the  revielle  sounded  long- 
before  daylight,  and  we  marched  at  5  o'clock, 
crossing  Neuse  and  Tar  rivers  and  encamping  at  6 
p.  M.,  after  a  march  of  twenty-four  miles.  On  the 
2nd  we  made  twenty-two  miles,  and  on  the  3rd, 
with  a  delay  of  five  hours  in  bridging  and  crossing 
Roanoke  river  at  Taylor's  Ferry,  we  marched  six- 
teen miles  and  encamped  near  Boydton,  Virginia. 
On  the  4th  we  marched  again  at  5  o'clock  A.  M., 
making  twenty-two  miles.  On  the  5th  the  march 
was  urged  all  day  long  and  twenty-eight  miles  were 
covered,  and  on  Saturday,  the  6th,  twenty-four 
miles.  On  Sunday,  the  7th,  twenty  miles  brought 
our  division  within  a  mile  of  the  James  river  at 
Richmond,  and  here  orders  were  received  from  Maj. 
Gen.  H.  W.  Halleck,  commanding  the  department  of 
the  James,  directing  the  approaching  troops  to 
encamp  at  least  six  miles  south  of  the  city  and  for- 
bidding any  officer  or  soldier  from  Sherman's  army 
to  enter  it  unless  he  had  a  written  pass  from  his 
corps  commander.  Gen.  Sherman,  not  expecting  bur 
arrival  so  soon,  was  absent,  and  in  partial  and  re- 
luctant compliance  with  these  orders,  the  weary 
troops  retraced  their  steps  some  two  or  three  miles 
and  went  into  camp. 

In  the  next  two  days  a  good  many  of  Sherman's 
officers  and  soldiers  did  visit  the  city  without  the 
required  written  pass,  greatly  to  the  vexation  of 
the  provost  guards,  who  were  expected  to  prevent 


RICHMOND,  WASHINGTON  AND  HOME.  183 

their  crossing  \he  river  and  to  arrest  and  imprison 
all  who  might  be  found  in  the  city  without  proper 
authority. 

•/ 

On  the  9th,  Sherman  still  being  absent,  orders 
from  "Headquarters  Department  of  the  James" 
were  received  and  published  to  our  army  announcing 
a  grand  review  of  the  Fourteenth  army  corps  in 
Richmond  on  the  10th  by  the  "Major  General  com- 
manding the  Department."  This  order  prescribed 
with  infinite  detail  the  line  of  march  by  which  the 
corps  was  to  be  brought  into  the  august  presence 
of  the  department  commander,  the  formation  of  the 
troops  in  the  column  and  the  position  in  which  the 
arms  were  to  be  carried  in  passing  the  several 
streets,  and  especially  the  honors  to  be  paid  the 
reviewing  officer.  All  baggage  wagons  and  camp 
followers  and  irregulars  of  every  sort  were  to  be 
rigorously  excluded  from  the  column,  and  the 
soldiers  and  their  arms  and  equipments  were  to  be 
in  the  highest  degree  in  military  order  and  condition. 
Gen.  Sherman  arrived  late  that  night,  but  in  time 
to  announce  to  the  troops  before  daybreak  that  the 
proposed  review  would  not  take  place  as  arranged. 

Our  arrival  had  been  several  days  earlier  than 
had  been  expected,  and  he  now  ordered  the  quarter- 
masters and  paymasters,  who  were  on  the  way  to 
meet 'us,  back  to  Washington  and  decided  to  march 
his  army  through  to  the  Potomac  at  once.  He 
seemed  to  think  that  we  had  been  sufficiently  enter- 
tained and  refreshed  already  in  the  "Department  of 
the  James." 

On  the  10th  our  marching  orders  were  received 
and  next  dav  the  Fourteenth  and  Twentieth  army 


184  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

corps  marched  through  the  city  in  their  free-and-easy 
"route  step,"  paying  no  honors  to  anybody. 

Since  Johnston's  surrender  no  foraging  on  the 
country  had  been  done,  and  the  bummers  had  been 
gradual! v  reduced  to  the  ranks  and  to  discipline  and 
order,  but  on  this  day's  march  they  were  revived 
and  displayed  in  unusual  exuberance  of  style,  spirit 
and  equipment.  The  provost  guards  who  lined  the 
streets  looked  on  them  in  wondering  amazement, 
but  the  Commander  of  the  Department  of  the  James 
was  nowhere  visible  to  the  naked  eye.  AVe  marched 
twenty-three  miles  that  day,  crossing  Chickahominy 
river,  and  in  the  thirteen  miles  next  day  passed 
through  Hanover  Court  House  and  crossed 
Panumkey  river.  On  the  13th  we  crossed  the  Rich- 
mond &  Gordonville  Railroad  at  Chesterfield  and 
after  a  morning's  march  of  twelve  miles  halted  at 
noon  at  Childsburg,  then  we  marched  four  miles 
northwesterly  and  encamped. 

On  the  L4th  we  marched  twenty  miles,  encamping 
near  Daniels ville,  and  on  the  15th,  after  passing 
through  Verdiersville  we  crossed  the  Rapidan  at 
Racoon  Ford,  nineteen  miles.  On  the  16th  we  made 
eighteen  miles,  crossing  the  Rappahannock  at  Kelly's 
Ford  and  next  day  marched  eighteen  miles  and 
encamped  at  Bristoe  Station  on  the  Orange  & 
Alexandria  Railroad.  We  were  now  traversing  his- 
toric ground  and  were  much  interested  in  noting 
places  whose  names  were  so  familiar  in  association 
with  the  movements  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac. 
On  the  18th  we  passed  Manassas  Junction,  the  Bull 
Run  battle  field,  and  Centreville  in  a  march  of 
twenty  miles,  and  on  the  19th  moved  our  camp 


RICHMOND,  WASHINGTON  AND  HOME.  185 

about  six  miles  to  Alexandria.  Here,  on  the  20th, 
seventy-two  more  recruits  from  Minnesota  joined 
the  regiment  and  were  distributed  to  companies, 
and  the  commissaries,  quartermasters  and  pay- 
masters supplied  our  needs  in  their  respective 
departments. 

Orders  were  received  announcing  the  Grand  Final 
Review  in  Washington  of  the  two  great  represent- 
ative armies,  that  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  on 
the  23rd  and  of  Sherman's  Army  on  the  24th  of 
May,  and  a  day  or  two  was  given  for  rest  and 
preparation.  Our  regiment  was  in  splendid  con- 
dition and  well  armed  and  equipped  in  every  par- 
ticular. We  numbered  about  300  veterans  of  nearly 
four  years'  service,  and  400  recruits  of  one  year  or 
less,  but  these  had  been  so  well  mingled  with  and 
instructed  by  the  veterans  that  there  was  little 
apparent  difference  in  appearance  or  efficiency. 
There  were  few,  if  any,  other  regiments  in  our  corps 
so  strong  as  ours — many  of  them  numbered  less  than 
300  men,  the  policy  in  most  of  the  states  having 
been  to  organize  new  regiments  rather  than  to  fill 
up  the  old  ones.  Our  ten  companies,  under  arms, 
averaged  about  thirty-two  files  front  and  to  con- 
dense the  marching  column  for  the  review  the 
smaller  regiments  were  formed  into  eight  or  six  and 
some  of  them  into  four  companies  of  about  that  size. 

The  Fifteenth,  Seventeenth  and  Twentieth  corps 
crossed  Long  Bridge  during  the  night  of  the  23rd 
and  bivouacked  in  the  streets  about  the  Capitol  to 
be  in  readiness  to  commence  the  march  at  the  ap- 
pointed hour.  The  morning  of  Wednesday,  the  24th, 
was  clear  and  sunny.  Taking  an  early  breakfast  in 


186  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

our  own  camp,  our  Fourteenth  corps  was  in  motion 
at  7  o'clock  and  after  a  march  of  eight  miles  stacked 
arms  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Capitol  at  10  o'clock. 
The  review  march  had  already  commenced,  but 
there  were  sixty-five  thousand  men  in  the  column, 
\vhich  marching  briskly  consumed  six  and  a  half 
hours  in  passing  the  reviewing  stand,  so  our^time 
to  march  out  into  Pennsylvania  avenue  did  not 
come  until  afternoon. 

Probably  no  more  magnificent  military  display 
was  ever  seen  than  the  one  that  greeted  our  eyes 
as  we  marched  around  the  Capitol  and  looked 
down  the  long,  straight,  broad  avenue,  filled  from 
curb  to  curb  with  marching  troops,  the  gay 
uniforms  and  glistening  muskets  and  the  unfolded 
colors  all  swaying  with  the  rythm  of  the  music  as 
the  regiments  with  regular,  steady  step,  moved 
on.  At  the  great  Treasury  building  the  column 
wheeled  by  companies  to  the  right  and  then 
presently  to  the  left,  and  then  the  arms  were 
smartly  brought  to  the  "carry"  for  the  "march 
past"  the  President  and  the  high  officers  of  the 
army  and  of  the  government  standing  with  him. 
Officers  saluted  respectfully  as  they  .  passed  the 
stand,  and  when  the  rear  company  of  a  regiment 
had  cleared  the  White  House  grounds,  the  arms 
were  "right  shouldered"  and  the  route  step 
resumed.  No  halt  for  rest  was  permitted,  as  the 
march  of  the  column  in  the  avenue  must  not  be 
checked  or  obstructed  by  the  troops  ahead  of  it, 
so  we  tramped  on  through  Georgetown  and  across 
the  Acqueduct  bridge  into  Virginia  before  we 
had  an  opportunity  to  file  out  of  the  road  and 


RICHMOND,  WASHINGTON  AND  HOME.  187 

stack  arms  and  take  breath.  When  we  got  back 
to  our  camps  at  7  o'clock  we  had  marched  twenty 
miles,  and  were  pretty  thoroughly  tired.  Probably 
the  reviewing  officers,  who  stood  for  several  con- 
secutive hours  looking  at  the  passing  troops,  were 
also  tired,  but  the}'  did  not,  as  we  did,  have  to 
march  with  a  soldier's  load  ten  miles  to  get  there 
and  then  ten  miles  to  supper. 

On  the  day  after  the  review  our  corps  left  the 
old  bivouac  at  Alexandria  and  moved  about  ten 
miles  to  find  a  fresher  and  cleaner  camping  ground, 
about  three  miles  north  of  Washington.  Here  the 
officers  and  men  were  freely  given  opportunity  to 
visit  the  city,  and,  with  pleasant  weather  and 
plentiful  rations,  the  time  passed  rapidly  and  with- 
out' many  events  worthy  of  notation  here.  Our 
old  commander,  George  H.  Thomas,  visited  our 
camp  on  the  23rd  of  June,  and  was  enthusiastically 
received  by  our  regiment  and  others  that  had 
served  with  him  and  under  him,  in  the  West. 

On  the  3rd  he  reviewed  our  division,  which  had 
been  his  original  command  in  1861,  and  under  his 
direction  had  fought  and  won  the  battle  of  Mill 
Springs. 

On  the  6th  of  June  our  (third)  division  (14th 
armv  corps)  was  reorganized;  and  Col.  J.  W.  Bishop 
was  formally  assigned  to  command  the  first 
brigade,  now  consisting  of  the  2nd  Minnesota,  18th 
Kentucky,  31st  Ohio,  101st  Indiana  and  23rd 
Missouri  regiments,  and  on  the  9th  he  assumed 
command  of  the  division,  Gen.  Baird  having  taken 
leave  of  absence.  On  the  13th  of  June  his  com- 
mission as  Brigadier  General  by  Brevet,  dated 


188  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

April  9th,  1865,  was  received  and  was  duly 
announced  to  the  regiment.  (See  appendix  No.  28.) 
In  the  evening  the  officers  and  men  of  the  regiment, 
\vith  the  band,  came  to  division  headquarters 
en  masse  to  present  their  congratulations.  Some 
twenty-five  years  later  the  writer  learned  that  this 
appointment  had  been  recommended  by  his  corps 
and  army  commanders  from  Savannah  in  January, 
1865,  and,  the  commission  not  having  arrived,  the 
recommendation  was  renewed  in  May.  (See  ap- 
pendix No.  29.) 

On  the  14th  orders  were  received  to  move  the 
division  by  rail  to  Parkersburg,  on  the  Ohio  river, 
and  thence  by  steamers  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  the 
first  brigade  was  forwarded  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  same  day,  the  remainder  of  the  division  follow- 
ing next  morning.  The  troops  travelled  in  open 
coal  cars,  which  at  the  time  were  the  only  cars  to 
be  had  for  them,  and  they  would  have  been  com- 
fortable enough  in  fine  weather,  but  it  rained  all 
the  first  night  on  the  road,  drenching  the  men,  and 
with  the  coal  dust  making  their  beds  decidedly 
dirty  and  uncomfortable.  Division  headquarters 
left  Washington  by  passenger  train  in  the  evening 
of  the  15th,  and,  passing  the  troops  on  the  road, 
arrived  at  Cumberland  in  time  next  morning  to 
have  hot  coffee  supplied  to  all  the  troop  trains  as 
they  came  along,  which  was  gratefully  appreciated 
by  the  tired  and  hungry  men.  The  division  arrived 
at  Parkersburg  on  the  17th,  and  next  day,  Sunday 
the  18th,  embarked  on  a  fleet  of  steamers  for  the 
trip  down  the  Ohio  river.  We  had  a  most  delight- 
ful voyage,  passing  Cincinnati  at  6  p.  M.  of 


RICHMOND,  WASHINGTON  AND  HOME.  189 

Monday,  arrived  at  Louisville  Tuesday  morning, 
the  20th,  and,  marching  out  on  the  Bardstown 
pike,  encamped  about  four  miles  south  of  the  city. 
Here  the  next  twenty  days  were  passed  in  waiting 
the  decision  of  the  war  department  as  to  our  final 
discharge.  Some  of  the  troops  were  being  sent  to 
Texas  and  to  other  Southern  states,  and  while  we 
knew  that  the  larger  part  of  the  army  would  be 
soon  discharged,  we  could  not  know  that  we 
might  not  be  elected  to  remain  in  the  service  in- 
definitely. But  orders  came  at  last  for  our  muster 
out,  and  on  the  10th  of  July  the  rolls  were  all 
rea"dy,  and  the  final  inspection,  muster  and  parade 
was  made.  Orders  relieving  all  detached  duty  men 
had  been  received,  and  our  camp  and  garrison 
equipage  were  turned  over  to  the  Quartermaster. 

The  corps  commander  issued  his  farewell  orders, 
directing  the  regiment  to  proceed  to  Fort  Snelling, 
Minnesota,  for  final  discharge,  and  accompanied 
them  with  a  complimentary  letter.  (Appendix  Nos. 
30,  31  and  32.) 

The  officers  of  the  regiment  called  on  Gen. 
Baird,  our  division  commander,  in  the  evening, 
and  received  his  parting  congratulations  and  com- 
mendations. He  had,  as  our  division  commander 
since  October,  1863,  won  the  hearty  respect  and 
good  will  of  all  under  his  command,  and,  with  all 
our  eagerness  to  be  released  from  military  duty, 
there  was  mingled  much  of  regret  at  the  breaking 
up  of  all  our  well  established  and  agreeable 
relations  as  soldiers. 

Next  morning,  the  llth,  we  marched  out  of  our 
camps  at  6  o'clock,  leaving  the  tents  all  standing, 


190  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

and  a  few  minutes  later  halted  at  corps  head- 
quarters, where  Gen.  J.  C.  Davis,  the  corps  com- 
mander, made  us  a  brief  but  feeling  address,  and 
said  good-by ;  then  the  march  was  resumed  to 
Louisville ;  there  we  crossed  the  Ohio  river,  and  at 
10  o'clock  we  left  Jeffersonville  by  train  for  Chicago, 
where  on  arrival  at  6  p.  M.  next  day  the  regiment 
was  quartered  in  the  Soldiers'  Rest.  Early  on  the 
13th  we  marched  through  the  city  and  took  the 
train  for  La  Crosse  by  way  of  Watertown,  Wis. 
Reaching  La  Crosse  at  2  A.  M.  on  the  14th,  we 
immediately  went  on  board  the  steamer  McLellan 
for  St.  Paul. 

At  Winona  at  8  o'clock  a  crowd  of  people  were 
at  the  levee  to  greet  us,  and  the  captain  kindly 
cousented  to  hold  the  boat  there  long  enough  to 
permit  us  to  go  ashore  for  a  parade  march.  The 
men  were  in  high  spirits,  and  with  our  splendid 
band  and  full  ranks  the  regiment  marched  through 
the  broad,  level  streets  for  an  hour  or  more  and 
then  stacked  arms  to  enable  the  men  to  exchange 
greetings  and  congratulations  with  the  citizens 
and  with  their  friends,  many  of  whom  had  come  from 
interior  counties  to  see  us.  Winona  had  hospitably 
entertained  us  on  several  occasions,  and  we  all 
gratefully  remembered  it. 

Next  morning,  the  15th,  we  landed  at  the  lower 
levee  at  St.  Paul.  The  city  seemed  to  be  having  a 
general  holiday,  and  crowds  of  people  were  on  the 
bank  to  welcome  us,  with  bands  of  music  and 
salvos  of  artillery,  and  a  parade  of  the  fire  de- 
partment and  other  organizations.  Col.  John  T. 
Averill,  of  the  Gth  Minnesota  regiment,  marshaled 


RICHMOND,  WASHINGTON  AND  HOME.  191 

the  grand  procession,  and  under  its  escort  we 
marched  in  columns  of  platoons  up  Third  street  to 
Wabasha,  and  by  that  street  to  the  Capitol 
grounds,  where  we  were  received  by  Hon.  John  S. 
Prince,  then  Mayor  of  the  city,  and  Hon.  Stephen 
Miller,  then  Governor  of  the  state,  in  appropriate 
addresses  of  welcome.  Then  we  were  invited  to  a 
bountiful  collation  which  the  ladies  had  spread  for 
us  in  the  Capitol  building  and  which  they  person- 
ally served  to-  the  hungry  soldiers  with  gracious 
words  and  kind  attentions. 

All  this  over,  our  march  was  resumed  to  the 
upper  levee,  where  we  .re-embarked  for  Fort  Snell- 
ing.  About  5  o'clock  p.  .M.  we  were  encamped  on 
the  parade  ground  at  that  historic  post,  where 
four  years  before  we  had  been  mustered  into  the 
service.  Here  we  were  obliged  to  wait  several 
days  for  our  final  payment.  Our  camp  was  en- 
livened with  visiting  friends  during  the  day,  and 
throngs  of  people  came  out  every  evening  from  St. 
Paul  and  from  Minneapolis  to  attend  our  dress 
parades.  At  the  close  of  the  last  parade  of  the 
regiment,  Wednesday  evening,  July  19th,  a  brief 
farewell  address  was  made  to  the  regiment  by  the 
Colonel.  The  next  day,  July  20th,  the  final  pay- 
ment was  made,  the  men  received  their  individual 
discharges,  and  the  "Second  Regiment  of  Minnesota 
Veteran  Volunteer  Infantry"  ceased  to  exist.  The 
men  dispersed  to  their  homes  with  a  loyal  pride  in 
the  'record  made  by  the  regiment,  with  a  warm 
and  steadfast  friendship  for  each  other  as  comrades, 
and  with  the  satisfaction  that  comes  only  from 
duty  well  performed.  "May  God  bless  and  prosper 


192  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

them,  every  one!"  was  the  sincere  prayer  of  the 
Commander  as  the  men  affectionately  bade  him 
good-by  on  that  bright  summer  afternoon,  and 
now,  after  twenty-five  years  have  intervened  with 
varied  experiences  of  sadness  and  of  happiness  to 
us  all,  he  closes  the  record  with  the  same  "God 
bless  and  prosper  you,  comrades,  every  one!" 


CHAPTER    XV. 
CONCLUDING   REMARKS. 

The  war  through  which  this  narrative  has  taken 
us  ended  nearly  twenty-five  years  ago. 

A  generation  of  young  men  born  since  our  muster 
out,  are  now  voters  and  of  full  age  for  military 
service.  Many  of  them  are  enrolled  as  members  of 
the  National  Guard  in  the  several  states  and  doubt- 
less would  be  as  prompt  and  ready  as  their  fathers 
were,  to  take  the  field  for  the  National  defense  if 
the  country  required  their  services.  And  probably 
in  any  future  war  of  like  duration  the  deplorable 
waste  and  sacrifice  of  soldiers'  lives  and  health 
through  ignorance  and  incompetence  of  officers  and 
men  under  unaccustomed  circumstances,  would  be 
repeated.  Some  things  in  war  have  to  be  personally 
learned  by  experience,  and  a  brief  relation  of  some 
of  these  things  will  interest  old  comrades  as  a 
reminiscence,  if  it  does  not  meet  the  notice  of  any 
who  might  derive  instruction  from  it. 


CONCLUDING  REMARKS.  193 

At  the  President's  call  our  companies  were 
assembled  and  recruited  at  their  several  local  sta- 
tions, and  when  ready  were  ordered  to  the  general 
rendezvous  at  Fort  Snelling  to  be  mustered  into 
the  United  States  service  and  to  be  organized  into 
regiments.  The  men  and  officers  of  each  company 
were  mutual  acquaintances  and  friends,  while  they 
were  strangers  to  those  of  other  companies,  and 
this  with  other  obvious  causes  begot  and  promoted 
a  spirit  of  company  pride,  which,  if  they  had  been 
brought  together  for  a  few  days'  encampment  and 
exercise,  or  for  a  short  period  of  service  within  the 
state,  would  not  be  objectionable,  perhaps  indeed 
would  be  desirable  as  a  stimulus  for  each  to  do  its 
best.  The  rules  of  promotion  were  established  on 
this  line  at  the  beginning,  under  which  all  vacant 
commissions  occurring  in  any  company  were  to  be 
filled  by  promotion  from  its  own  ranks. 

When,  however,  the  regiment  left  the  state  and 
took  its  place  among  the  hundreds  of  other  regi- 
ments in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  United  States  this 
company  feeling  gave  place  in  great  degree  to  the 
larger  one  of  pride  and  comradeship  in  the  regiment, 
and  the  propriety  of  the  regimental  rule  of  promo- 
tion, which  was  adopted  and  announced  by  the 
Governor  in  1863,  became  manifest.  Under  this  rule 
the  vacant  commission  in  an3r  company  was  to  be 
filled  by  the  senior  of  the  next  lower  grade  in  the 
regiment,  promotions  to  the  grade  of  Second  Lieu- 
tenant being  made  within  the  company. 

Details  of  entire  companies  for  guard  and  picket 
and  fatigue  duty,  which  were  at  first  the  rule, 
gradually  were  superseded  by  details  of  officers  and 


13 


194  THE  STORY  OF  THK  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

men  from  all  the  companies,  which  promoted  better 
acquaintance  and  better  discipline,  and  better  dis- 
tributed the  duty  with  its  casualties  and  hardships 
throughout  the  regiment. 

So  the  regiment  came  to  be  in  large  degree  the 
unit  of  command  and  administration  and  maneuver, 
in  which  all  the  officers  and  men  were  personally 
known  to  and  interested  as  comrades  in  each  other, 
while  the  company  was  the  family  of  more  intimate 
and  brotherly  relations  among  the  men  and  more 
immediate  and  personal  care  and  command  by  the 
officers ;  and  the  regiment  and  the  company  were 
thus  better  and  more  efficiently  handled. 

At  the  beginning  it  was  a  favorite  scheme  to 
brigade  together  regiments  from  the  same  state,  to 
be  called  the  Vermont  brigade  or  the  Wisconsin 
brigade,  etc..  but  this  was  soon  discontinued  as 
unwise  and  the  better  plan  of  mingling  the  regiments 
from  the  various  states  together  was  adopted, 
thus,  in  organizing  a  National  Army,  ignoring  state 
lines.  Certain  influences  effected  and  maintained 
the  isolation  of  the  Regular  troops  in  separate 
brigades  and  when  practicable  in  separate  divisions, 
but  this  practice  was  even  more  objectionable  than 
the  separate  brigading  of  state  regiments.  If  a 
regular  regiment  was  in  any  way  superior  to  the 
volunteers,  why  should  not  the  latter  have  the 
advantage  of  association  with  it.  If  it  be  suggested 
that  the  regulars  might  learn  of  volunteers,  why 
should  they  not  have  the  opportunity? 

One  of  the  first  things  the  new  soldier  had  to 
learn  was  how  intelligently  and  properly  to  take 
care  of  himself.  Manv  of  them  were  mere  children 


COXCLUDING  REMARKS.  195 

in  this  respect.  Accustomed  to  the  comforts  and 
conveniences  of  life  under  different  conditions,  he 
lacked  the  provident  forethought,  and  the  knack  of 
getting  the  best  out  of  present  circumstances,  which 
became  a  habit  with  the  veteran,  and  was  therefore 
continually  suffering  for  want  of  something  which 
he  might  have  had.  Ordered  out  suddenly  on  a 
hard  march  his  already  worn  out  shoes  gave  out 
the  first  day.  When  night  came  on  cold  or  stormy 
his  overcoat  or  blanket  had  been  thrown  away  to 
lighten  his  load  on  the  march.  If  the  trains  were 
mired  several  miles  back  in  the  road  our  recruit 
had  no  food  or  cooking  utensils,  though  he  had 
received  three  days  rations  that  very  morning.  If 
he  got  overheated  on  the  march  or  at  drill  he  would 
drink  a  pint  of  cold  spring  water  at  a  gulp  and 
become  a  candidate  for  hospital  treatment  directly. 
If  he  could  sneak  out  of  the  column  on  the  road  he 
laid  down  in  the  fence  corner  and  took  a  nap,  then 
if  he  were  not  picked  up  bv  the  enemy  he  had  to 
march  alone  and  weary  far  into  the  night  to  rejoin 
his  compan\-.  If  he  got  sick  he  got  homesick  also 
and  lost  his  heart  and  hope  and  died. 

Then  the  officers  from  General  to  Captain  were 
often  as  inexperienced  as  the  men,  and  indifferent 
to  the  comfort  and  care  of  their  troops.  Few  of 
them  knew  the  weight  of  a  knapsack,  haversack, 
canteen,  gun  and  "forty  rounds,"  and  the  marches 
were  conducted  without  any  intelligent  judgment 
as  to  economizing  the  strength  of  the  troops,  and 
the  camps  were  not  selected  with  due  regard  to 
convenience  and  rest.  All  these  things  were  greatly 
improved  with  experience.  Within  the  first  year  of 


19G  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

service  in  the  South  our  regiment  lost  from  deaths 
and  discharges  resulting  from  wounds  in  action 
less  than  two  per  cent,  but  in  the  same  time  lost 
from  deaths  and  discharges  for  disability  resulting 
from  diseases  and  hardships,  over  twenty  per  cent. 

Yet  the  same  regiment  made  the  "Campaign  of 
the  Carolinas"  three  years  later,  in  mid-winter, 
marching  480  miles,  foraging  on  the  country  chiefly 
for  its  rations,  with  no  tents  except  those  carried 
on  the  men's  backs,  and  with  one  half  of  its  men 
recruits  of  only  a  few  months'  service  (well 
mingled  with  and  instructed  by  the  veterans,  how- 
ever) and  arrived  at  Goldsboro  with  a  total  tem- 
porary loss  from  its  effective  present  force  of  only 
three  per  cent.  Such  a  record  was  noc,  in  this 
campaign,  reached  by  many  regiments,  but  any- 
thing approaching  it  in  the  first  year  of  the  war 
would  have  been  quite  impossible  for  any,  in  the 
then  inexperience  of  officers  and  men. 

As  the  war  went  on,  officers  learned  to  require 
and  men  to  conform  to  many  things  in  the  ways 
of  regulation  and  discipline  that  could  not  be 
applied  and  enforced  with  new  troops  It  came  to 
be  understood  that  somewhere  in  all  the  months 
of  weary  marching,  maneuvering  and  campaigning, 
there  was  to  come  an  hour  of  actual  battle,  when 
the  victory  must  be  won .  by  the  army  that  could 
outfight  the  other.  Failing  in  this  emergency,  all 
else  was  failure. 

To  bring  a  regiment  properly  and  effectively 
into  battle  it  must  have  several  qualities,  only  to 
be  developed  by  long  and  persistent  attention  to 


CONCLUDING  REMARKS.  197 

details,  which  at  times  grow  tiresome  and  seem  to 
be  arbitrary  and  unnecessary. 

At  the  crucial  hour  the  regiment  must  be  present 
in  full  strength  and  must  have  its  cartridge  boxes 
full— it  must  be  coherent,  not  to  be  broken  up  and 
scattered  by  something  or  anything  that  may 
happen  to  it — and  it  must  be  manageable  under 
all  circumstances.  Wanting  any  of  these  qualities, 
it  is  simply  a  crowd  of  men  of  which  nothing  can 
be  predicted  with  certainty  except  confusion  and 
defeat. 

As  these  things  came  to  be  realized,  some  rules 
were  adopted  and  persistently  enforced  in  our  regi- 
ment, through  a  season  of  reluctance  and  grumb- 
ling, until  they  came  to  be  habitually  and  cheer- 
full  y  observed.  One  of  these  was  that  there  should 
be  no  straggling  on  the  march,  and  no  wandering 
from  camp  without  permission.  To  this  end,  while 
in  camp  the  men  must  be  accounted  for  by  the 
company  commanders  at  the  several  roll  calls,  and, 
if  the  camp  was  for  more  than  a  day  or  two, 
exercises  were  had,  both  to  require  the  presence  of 
officers  and  men,  and  to  promote  the  efficiency,  steadi- 
ness and  manageability  of  the  regiment.  While  on 
the  march,  men  were  forbidden  to  leave  the  column 
except  with  permission  in  case  of  necessity.  At 
every  halt  for  rest  arms  were  stacked  and  absentees, 
if  any,  were  noted  and  accounted  for,  or  reported. 
Relieved  of  his  musket,  the  tired  soldier  got  his 
rest  with  his  comrades,  and  the  march  was  always 
resumed  with  music  by  the  band,  whose  members 
were  also  required  to  keep  their  places  at  the  head 
of  the  regiment.  When  we  encamped  for  the  night 


198.  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

our  men  were  always  on  hand  for  supper  and  a 
full  night's  rest,  or  for  any  duty  required. 

In  the  "March  to  the  Sea"  we  lost  not  a  single 
man  from  straggling  or  capture,  while  a  good 
many  were  so  lost  from  other  regiments. 

Our  cartridge  boxes  were  frequently  inspected 
and  kept  full.  Forty  rounds  of  .58  calibre  is  no 
light  load,  but  the  regiments  whose  men  were 
allowed  to  waste  or  throw  them  away  at  their 
pleasure,  often  got  into  disgrace  when  suddenly 
called  on  for  duty  with  empty  boxes. 

The  men  themselves  came  to  take  pride  in  being 
always  present  and  ready,  and  the  records  made 
by  the  regiment  successively  at  Chicamauga, 
Mission  Ridge,  the  Veteran  Furlough,  the  March 
to  the  Sea  and  the  Carolina  Campaign,  abundantly 
justifies  the  preparation  and  discipline  through 
which  they  were  achieved. 

At  the  beginning  thirteen  six-mule  wagons  were 
allowed  for  the  transportation  of  each  regiment, 
one  for  headquarters'  tents,  office  and  baggage, 
one  for  quartermaster  stores,  one  for  the  hospital 
outfit,  and  one  for  the  tents  and  baggage  of  each 
company.  At  this  rate  the  wagons  occupied  as 
much  space  in  the  road  as  the  regiment  did,  and 
when  an  army  corps  marched  with  its  brigade,  divis- 
ion and  corps  supplies  and  ammunition  trains,  in 
addition  to  the  regimental  \vagons,  the  trains 
quite  overwhelmed  the  troops! 

So  in  the  spring  of  18(33,  when  the  "pup  tents" 
were  issued,  the  regimental  trains  were  reduced  to 
three  wagons,  and  the  other  trains  were  also 
reduced,  though  in  a  less  proportion. 


CONCLUDING  REMARKS.  199 

This,  in  anticipation,  seemed  to  be  a  great 
hardship,  but  it  proved  a  positive  advantage  to 
the  troops.  The  men  now  carried  what  they 
needed  and,  arriving  at  camp,  their  comfort  did 
not  depend  on  the  wagons  coming  in  (as  they 
often  did  not),  and  the  roads  being  less  encumbered 
with  trains,  the  troops  made  their  marches  easier 
and  quicker. 

Most  of  the  regimental  bands  that  went  out 
with  the  troops  disappeared  during  the  first  year; 
they  were  usually  good  musicians,  but  poor  soldiers, 
and,  discouraged  by  the  rough  ways  of  war, 
neglected  by  the  officers  who  should  have  looked 
after  them,  and  despised  by  the  men  generally, 
they  were  mustered  out  as  expensive  super- 
numararies. 

Later  on,  in  our  regiment,  the  company  musicians 
were  organized  into  a  band,  of  which  we  were 
justly  very  proud,  and  similar  action  was  perhaps 
taken  in  other  regiments.  A  good  band,  always 
present  for  duty,  even  in  battle,  where  they  should 
care  for  the  wounded,  is  a  very  important  part  of 
a  regiment,  worth  all  it  costs  the  government  in 
money  or  the  Commander  in  care  for  its  discipline 
and  instruction. 

Early  in  the  war  issues  were  made  to  the 
regiments  of  axes  and  shovels  for  repairing  roads, 
constructing  rifle  pits  and  other  works  of  fortifica- 
tion, etc.  They  were  habitually  carried  in  the  trains 
until  the  company  wagons  were  taken  away,  but 
as  the  trains  were  usually  in  the  rear  and  the  tools 

J 

in  the  bottoms  of  the  wagons,  they  were   seldom 
available  when  most  needed,  and  seldom  in  order  for 


200  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

use  when  within  reach.  Later  the  orders  were  that 
the  men  should  carry  these  tools  in  addition  to  their 
regular  loads.  Under  these  orders  the  tools  were 
invariably  "lost"  within  the  first  two  or  three 
days,  and  when  suddenly  they  were  wanted  in  some 
emergency,  the  temper  of  the  general  officer  was 
also  lost,  to  the  great  discomfort  of  subordinates. 

In  our  regiment,  after  some  experience  of  this 
kind,  a  Lieutenant,  Sergeant  and  Corporal,  and  two 
privates  from  each  company  were  selected  and 
called  the  "pioneers."  They  were  all  strong,  active 
and  skillful  men,  were  armed  only  with  army 
revolvers  in  the  belt,  and  each  of  the  twenty  men 
carried  an  ax  and  two  shovels.  They  camped  and 
messed  with  their  companies,  but  marched  at  the 
head  of  the  regiment,  always  ready  for  any  job  in 
their  line.  They  were  inspected  as  carefully  as  were 
their  comrades,  and  their  axes  were  as  keen  and 
their  shovels  as  bright  as  good  care  could  keep 
them.  On  the  march  or  in  camp  the  "pioneer  call" 
by  the  bugler  brought  this  corps  promptly  to  head- 
quarters duly  equipped,  and  at  a  second  call  four 
more  men  from  each  company,  leaving  their  guns 
with  their  comrades,  joined  the  pioneers,  and  it  was 
a  tough  job  that  was  not  soon  disposed  of  by  the 
sixty  men. 

This  corps  and  their  effective  work  attracted  con- 
siderable attention,  and  the  commander  of  the  14th 
corps,  in  more  than  one  important  emergency,  wit- 
nessed and  warmly  commended  their  skill  and 
prompt  readiness. 

The  matter  of  recruiting  and  keeping  full  the 
regiments  in  the  field  has  been  already  alluded  to 


CONCLUDING  REMARKS.  201 

in  the  narrative,   but  it    deserves    perhaps    further 
notice. 

The  continued  call  for  men  in  the  later  years  of 
the  war  no  doubt  fully  taxed  the  Governors  of  the 
several  states.  To  fill  the  existing  regiments 
required  only  individual  enlistments,  but  they  had 
ceased  to  be  spontaneous  as  they  had  been  in  the 
beginning,  and  it  was  much  easier  to  raise  a  new 
regiment,  with  the  active  assistance  of  men  who 
expected  to  be  commissioned  in  it,  than  to  enlist 
the  same  number  of  men  for  the  regiments  already 
at  the  front. 

Experienced  officers  could  not  usually  be  called 
home  from  the  field  to  recruit  new  companies  or 
regiments,  and  so  it  often  happened  that  a  new 
regiment  of  a  thousand  men,  with  officers  of  little 
or  no  experience,  arrived  at  the  front.  The  War 
Department  had  decreed  that,  when  an  old  regiment 
had  less  than  the  standard  strength,  a  vacant 
Colonelcy  should  not  be  filled,  and  so  in  some  of 
the  brigades  there  were  no  Colonels  in  any  of  the 
regiments,  and  the  brigade  itself  was  commanded 
by  a  Lieutenant  Colonel,  fully  competent  after  three 
years  experience,  to  command  it. 

To  assign  the  new  regiment  to  such  a  brigade 
would  not  only  wreaken  it  by  the  large  addition  of 
raw  and  unwieldy  material,  but  would  place  the 
new  Colonel  at  once  in  command  of  it,  which 
might  in  the  presence  of  the  enemy  result  in  disaster. 

So  the  new  regiment  was  detached  to  some  post 
or  other  duty,  where,  as  in  several  instances  hap- 
pened, John  Morgan  or  some  other  enterprising 


202  THI-:  STORY  OK  THE  SECOND  REGIMENT. 

Confederate  commander  would  capture  the  post, 
regiment,  new  guns  and  all. 

In  Minnesota  the  practice  was  to  appoint  offi- 
cers from  the  older  regiments  to  command  the  later 
ones,  and  more  effort  was  made  to  recruit  the  old 
ones  than  in  some  other  states. 

It  is  a  common  mistake  to  think  and  speak  of 
the  old  soldiers  as  a  pitiable  lot  of  physical  wrecks 
whose  disability  originated  in  the  military  service. 
This  is  far  from  the  truth.  A  good  many  men 
undoubtedly  suffer  from  such  disabilities  so  incurred, 
but  many  of  the  survivors  of  the  war  are  indebted 
to  their  military  service  not  only  for  improved 
physical  condition,  but  for  such  regulation,  educa- 
tion and  development  of  mind  and  character  as  have 
largely  contributed  to  their  success  in  civil  life,  and 
no  class  of  men  have  in  the  past  twenty-five  years 
been  more  generally  successful  than  the  old  soldiers. 
The  four  years  training  in  habits  of  patience,  courage, 
self  reliance  and  persistence  have  given  them  qualities 
which  count  in  their  whole  after  life  as  no  small 
recompense  for  the  hardships  and  exposure  of  their 
army  service. 

The  veterans  who  survived  the  war  are  now  old 
men,  yet  the}'  are  generally,  I  think,  in  better  phy- 
sical condition  than  the  average  of  other  men  of 
equal  age.  A  soldier's  life  is,  or  should  be,  temper- 
ate, and  restrained  in  respect  to  many  vicious 
practices  and  with  due  care  of  himself  in  later  years 
as  in  the  service,  the  old  soldier  should  be  entitled 
to  a  comfortable  passage  down  the  evening  tide  of 
his  life  as  he  approaches  and  enters  the  Great 
Beyond. 


APPENDIX. 

[No.  1.] 

ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE. 

ST.  PAUL,  April  17th,  1861. 
CAPT.  J.  W.  BISHOP,  Chatfield. 

SIR  :  —  With  this  find  three  copies  of  Governor's  proclama- 
tion and  order  relative  thereto.  Will  you  please  get  your 
company  together  upon  receipt  of  this  and  report  to  me  as 
to  what  course  they  will  take  as  soon  thereafter  as  possible. 
I  hope  to  hear  from  you  soon. 

Yours  respectfully, 
WM.  H.  ACKER,  Adjutant  General. 

[No.  2.] 

TELEGRAM. 

ST.  PAUL,  April  22nd,  1861. 
J.  W.  BISHOP,  Chatfield,  Minn., 
(Care  of  John  Ball,  Winona.) 

Fill  up  at  once  and  drill.    Your  company  is  accepted  and 
under  state  pay.    Await  marching  orders.    I  write  by  mail. 
IGNATIUS  DONNELLY,  Governor,  ad  interim. 


[No.  3.] 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 

ST.  PAUL,  April  22nd,  1861. 
CAPT.  J.  W.  BISHOP,  Chatfield,  Minn. 

Your  company  is  accepted.  I  have  telegraphed  you  to- 
day. You  must  fill  up  your  ranks  at  once  and  be  ready  to 
march  to  St.  Paul  upon  receipt  of  order  from  Adjutant  Gen- 
eral which  will  probably  be  delivered  by  a  special  agent. 

Very  truly  and  respectfully, 

IGNATIUS  DONNELLY. 


204  APPENDIX. 

[No.  4.] 

ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

ST.  PAUL,  MINN.,  April  26th,  1861. 
CAPT.  J.  W.  BISHOP. 

SIR:  —  You  are  hereby  ordered  and  required  to  deliver  to 
the  bearer,  Wm.  H.  Shelly,  Esq.,  fifty-nine  rifle  muskets,  de- 
livered to  Company  "A,"  3rd  regiment,  M.V.  M.  at  the  date 
of  its  organization,  and  the  accoutrements  accompanying 
the  same,  for  the  equipment  of  the  regiment  now  forming. 
JOHN  B.  SANBORN,  Adjutant  General. 


CHATFIELU,  April  29th,  1861. 

I  have  this  morning  received  from  Capt.  J.  W.  Bishop  the 
above  orders  except  swords. 

WM.  H.  SHELLY. 

[No.  5.] 

CHATFIELD,  May  4th,  1861. 

To  JOHN  B.  SANBORN,  Adjutant  General,  etc. 

SIR:  —  I  am  authorized  to  tender  to  you  the  "Chatlield 
Guards,"  eighty  men,  as  unconditional  volunteers  in  the 
service  of  the  State  or  of  the  Federal  government,  to  notify 
you  that  they  are  ready  for  immediate  service  and  will  hold 
themselves  thus  in  readiness,  and  to  request  that  this  tender 
be  placed  on  file  in  your  office,  and  that  the  "  Chatfield 
Guards"  may  retain  their  position  at  the  head  of  the  list  of 
companies  already  tendered  and  which  were  not  accepted  for 
the  first  regiment  mustered  in  response  to  the  call  of  the 
President.  Very  respectfully  yours,  etc., 

J.  W.  BISHOP,  Captain  Chatfield  Guards. 


[No.  6.] 

CHATFIELD,  June  7th,  1861. 
JOHN  B.  SANBORN,  Adjutant  General. 

SIR:  —  Hearing  that  the  arms  and  equipments,  ordered 
by  Governor  Ramsey  for  the  State,  have  been  received  at  St. 
Paul,  I  venture  to  express  the  hope  that  my  requisition  for 
sixty  stand  of  arms,  with  equipments  and  ammunition,  for 
the  "  Chatfield  Guards  "  maybefilled  and  forwardedat  once. 

The  "Guards"  have  sent  for  uniforms  at  their  own  ex- 
pense and  all  of  the  members  who  reside  in  this  immediate 


APPENDIX.  205 

vicinity  meet  for  drill  every  evening  at  6:30  o'clock  and  on 
Saturday  afternoons.  It  would  add  materially  to  the  in- 
terest and  profit  of  our  drill  to  have  the  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion and  the  boys  are  getting  a  little  impatient  at  the  long 
delay  in  sending  them. 

A  tender  of  our  company  for  any  honorable  service  is  on 
file  in  your  office  and  the  "Guards"  will,  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  hold  themselves  always  at  the  "ready." 

Yours  truly, 
J.  W.  BISHOP,  Captain  "Chatfield  Guards." 


[No.  7.] 

(Adjutant  General's  report  for  1861,  page  237.) 

GENERAL  HEADQUARTERS, 

STATE  OF  MINNESOTA. 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

ST.  PAUL,  June  26th,  1861. 
CAPT.  BISHOP,  Second  Regiment  Minnesota  Volunteers. 

You  will  take  command  of  the  post  of  Fort  Snelling 
forthwith  and  sp  continue  until  further  orders;  and  you  are 
hereby  announced"  as  such  commander  and  will  be  obeyed 
and  resected  accordingly. 

By  order  of  the  Commander  in  Chief, 

JOHN  B.  SANBORN,  Adjutant  General. 


[No.  8.] 

CAPTURED  FLAGS. 

(War  of  the  Rebellion,  official  records,  Series  1,  Vol.  7,  page 
82.) 

HEADQUARTERS  IST  DIVISION, 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  OHIO. 
SOMERSET,  KY.,  February  3rd,  1861. 

BRIG.  GENL.  D.  C.  BUELL, 

Commanding  Department  of  the  Ohio,  Louisville,  Ky. 
GENERAL  :  —  I  have  the  honor  to  forward  to  you  by  Cap- 
tain Davidson,  10th  Kentucky  volunteers,  six  Rebel  flags; 


206  APPENDIX. 

one  captured  on  the  battle  field  by  the  2nd  Minnesota  reg- 
iment, the  others  taken  in  the  intrenchments  byofficers  and 
men  of  the  other  regiments.  Col.  Kise  reports  that  his  men 
captured  three  stands  of  colors,  but  none  have  been  sent  to 
these  headquarters.  I  have  ordered  him  to  turn  them  in, 
and  will  forward  them  as  soon  as  received.  In  the  box  with 
the  colors  is  the  regimental  order  book  of  the  15th  Missis- 
sippi rifles,  and  a  book  of  copies  of  all  Gen.  Zollicoffer's  orders 
from  the  organization  of  the  brigade  until  a  few  days  before 
the  battle.  I  am,  General,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

GEO.  H.  THOMAS, 
Brigadier  General,  U.  S.  Volunteers,  commanding. 


[No.  9.] 

Report  of  Col.  H.  P.  Van  Cleve,  commanding  reg't. 

(War  of  the  Rebellion,  official  reports,  Series  1,  Vol.  7,  page 
95.) 

HEADQUARTERS  2ND  REGIMENT, 

MINNESOTA  VOLUNTEERS. 
CAMP  HAMILTON,  KY.,  January  22nd,  1862. 

SIR  :  —  I  have  the  honor  herewith  to  submit  my  report  of 
the  part  taken  by  the  2nd  Minnesota  regiment  in  the  action 
of  the  Cumberland  on  the  19th  inst : 

About  seven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  that  day,  and  before 
breakfast  I  was  info  rmedby  Col.  Manson,  of  the  10th  Indiana 
commanding  the  2nd  brigade  of  our  division,  that  the  enemy 
was  advancing  in  force  and  that  he  was  holding  them  in 
check,  and  that  it  was  the  order  of  Gen.  Thomas  that  I 
should  form  my  regiment  and  march  immediately  to  the 
scene  of  action.  Within  ten  minutes  we  had  left  our  camp 
and  were  marching  toward  the  enermr.  Arriving  at  Logan's 
field,  by  your  order,  we  halted  in  line  of  battle,  supporting 
Standart's  battery,  which  was  returning  the  fire  of  the  en- 
emy's guns,  whose  balls  and  shells  \vere  falling  near  us.  As 
soon  as  the  9th  Ohio  came  up  and  had  taken  its  position  on 
our  right  we  continued  our  march,  and  after  proceeding 
about  half  a  mile  we  came  upon  the  enemy,  who  were  posted 
behind  a  fence  along  the  road,  beyond  which  there  was  an 
open  field  broken  by  ravines.  The  enemy,  opening  upon  us,  a 


APPENDIX. 


207 


galling  fire  fought  desperately,  and  a  hand-to-hand  fight 
ensued,  which  lasted  about  thirty  minutes. 

The  enemy  having  met  with  so  warm  a  reception  in  front, 
and  also  having  been  flanked  on  their  left  by  the  9th  Ohio, 
and  on  their  right  by  a  portion  of  our  left,  who,  by  their  well 
directed  fire  drove  them  from  behind  their  hidingplaces,  gave 
way.  leaving  a  large  number  of  their  dead  and  wounded  on 
the  field.  We  joined  in  the  pursuit  which  continued  till  near 
sunset,  when  we  arrived  within  a  mile  of  their  intrench- 
ments,  where  we  rested  on  our  arms  during  the  night.  The 
next  morning  we  marched  into  their  works  which  we  found 
deserted.  The  enemy  had  crossed  the  Cumberland. 

Six  hundred  of  my  regiment  were  in  the  engagement, 
twelve  of  whom  were  killed  and  thirty-three  wounded. 

I  am  well  satisfied  with  the  conduct  of  my  entire  com- 
mand during  the  severe  and  close  engagement  in  which  they 
took  part.  Where  all  behaved  so  well  I  have  no  desire  to 
make  individual  distinction. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

H.  P.  VANCLEVE, 
Colonel  commanding  2nd  Minnesota  Volunteers. 


[No.  10.] 


BATTLE  OF  MILL  SPRINGS. 


List  of  killed  and  wounded  in  2nd  Minn. 
(Official  files,  Adjutant  General's  office,  state  of  Minnesota.) 


KILLED. 

Xames.  Rank  and  Co. 

H.  C.  Reynolds Private  B 

Milo  Crumb Private  B 

Wm.  H.  H    Morrow Private  I) 

Fred  Bohmbaeh Private  G 

John  B.  Cooper Private  B 

Andrew   Dresco Private  B 

H.  R.  Thompson Private  E 

Gustave  Rommel Private  G 

Fred  Stomshorn Private  G 

Jacob  Warner Private  G 

Sam.  H.  Parker Private    I 

Frank  Schneider Private   I 

WOUNDED. 

Wm.  Markham Capt.  B 

Tenbroek  Stout 2nd  Lieut. 

Ed.  Cooper Corp'l  B 

W.  C.  Smith Prvate  B 

Ira  G.  Walden Private  B 

John  Etzel Private  B 

Cornelius  White Private  B 

J.  B.  Chamber Private  B 

John   Mabold Pnvate  E 

J.  R.   Brown Pnvate  E 


WOUNDED — CONTINUED. 

Names.  Rank  and  Co. 

O.  P.  Renne Private  E 

Anton  Morgenstern Serg'nt  G 

Frank  Kiefer Private  G 

Chas.  Schultz Private  G 

Chas.  Yanke Private  G 

Henry  H.  Hammen Private  G 

Wm.  Kemper Private  G 

Geo.  Dehnning Private  G 

Henry  Clinton Private   I 

Thos.  McDonough 1st  Sgt.  K 

F.  V.  Hotchkiss Corp'l  K 

Alex.  Grant Corp'l  K 

J.  B.  Pomeroy Corp'l  K 

John  Benson Private  K 

Henry  F.  Cook PrivateK 

Alex.  Parttnan PrivateK 

W.  K.  Haskins PrivateK 

John  Smith  PrivateK 

P.  S.  Barnett PrivateK 

Thos    Johnson PrivateK 

G.  Plowman PrivateK 

C.  F.  Westland PrivateK 


208  APPENDIX. 

(No.  11.) 

Report  of  Col.  Robert  L.  McCook,  Commanding  Brigade. 

(War  of   Rebellion,    Official   Records,   Series   1,   Vol.   7, 

page  93). 

HEADQUARTERS  SRD  BRIGADE,  IST  DIVISION, 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  OHIO. 
SOMERSET,  January  27th,  1862. 

SIR  : — I  have  the  honor  respectfully  to  submit  the  follow- 
ing report  of  the  part  which  my  Brigade  took  in  the  battle 
of  the  Cumberland,  on  the  9th  inst. 

Shortly  after  seven  A.  M.,  Col.  Manson  informed  me  that 
the  enemy  had  driven  in  his  pickets  and  were  approachingin 
force.  That  portion  of  the  brigade  with  me,  the  9th  Ohio 
and  2nd  Minnesota  Regiments,  were  formed  and  marched 
to  a  point  near  the  junction  of  the  Mill  Springs  and  Cum- 
berland roads,  and  immediately  in  the  rear  of  Wetmore's 
batterv,  the  9th  Ohio  on  the  right  and  the  2nd  Alinnesota 
on  the  left  of  the  Mill  Springs  road.  From  this  point  I 
ordered  a  company  of  the  9th  Ohio  to  skirmish  the  woods 
on  the  right  to  prevent  any  flank  movement  of  the  enemy. 
Shortly  after  this,  Col.  Manson,  commanding  the  2nd  brig- 
ade, informed  me  in  person  that  the  enemy  were  in  force 
and  in  position  on  the  top  of  the  next  hill  beyond  the 
woods,  and  that  they  forced  him  to  retire.  I  ordered  my 
brigade  forward  through  the  woods  in  line  of  battle  skirt- 
ing the  Mill  Springs  road.  The  march  of  the  2nd  Minne- 
sota was  soon  obstructed  by  the  10th  Indiana,  which  was 
scattered  through  the  woods  waiting  for  ammunition.  In 
front  of  them  I  saw  the  4th  Kentucky  engaging  the  enemy, 
but  evidently  retiring.  At  this  moment  the  enemy  with 
shouts  advanced  on  them  about  100  yards  and  took  posi- 
tion within  the  field  on  the  hilltop  near  the  second  fence 
from  the  woods.  At  this  time  I  received  \-our  order  to 
advance  as  rapidly  as  possible  to  the  hilltop.  I  ordered 
the  2nd  Minnesota  Regiment  to  move  by  the  flank  until  it 
passed  the  10th  Indiana  and  4th  Kentucky  and  then  de- 
ploy to  the  left  of  the  road,  I  ordered  the  9th  Ohio  to 
move  through  the  first  corn  field  to  the  right  of  the  road 
and  take  position  at  the  farther  fence,  selecting  the  best 
cover  possible.  The  position  of  the  2nd  Minnesota  Regi- 
ment covered  the  ground  formerly  occupied  by  the  4th  Ken- 
tucky and  10th  Indiana,  which  brought  their  right  flank 
within  about  ten  feet  of  the  enemv  where  he  had  advanced 


APPENDIX.  209 

upon  the  4-th  Kentucky.  The  9th  Ohio  position  checked  an 
attempt  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  to  Hank  the  position 
taken  by  the  2nd  Minnesota  and  consequently  brought  the 
left  wing  almost  against  the  enemy,  where  he  was  sta- 
tioned behind  straw  stacks  and  piles  of  fence  rails.  An- 
other regiment  was  stationed  immediately  in  front  of  the 
9th  Ohio,  well  covered  by  a  fence  and  some  woods,  a  small 
field  not  more  than  sixty  yards  wide,  intervening  between 
the  positions.  The  enemy  also  had  possession  of  a  small 
log  house,  stable  and  corn-crib,  about  fifty  yards  in  front  of 
the  9th  Ohio. 

Along  the  lines  of  each  of  the  regiments,  and  from  the 
enemy's  front  a  hot  and  deadly  fire  opened.  On  the 
right  wing  of  the  2nd  Minnesota  regiment  the  contest  was 
at  first  almost  hand-to-hand ;  the  enemy  and  the  2nd  Min- 
nesota were  poking  their  guns  through  the  same  fence. 
However,  before  the  fight  continued  long  in  this  way,  that 
part  of  the  enemy  contending  with  the  2nd  Minnesota  regi- 
ment, retired  in  good  order  to  some  rail  piles  hastily  thrown 
together,  the  point  from  which  they  had  advanced  upon 
the  4th  Kentucky.  This  portion  of  the  enemy  obstinately 
maintaining  their  position  and  the  balance  remaining  as 
before  described,  a  desperate  fire  was  continued  for*  about 
thirty  minutes,  with  seemingly  doubtful  results.  The  im- 
portance of  possessing  the  log  house,  stable  and  corn-crib 
soon  became  apparent  and  companies  A,  B,  C  and  D,  of  the 
9th  Ohio  were  ordered  to  flank  the  enem}'  upon  the  extreme 
left  and  obtain  possession  of  the  house.  This  done,  still  the 
enemy  stood  firm  to  his  position  and  cover.  During  this 
time  the  artillery  of  the  enemy  constantly  overshot  my 
brigade.  Seeing  the  superior  number  of  the  enemy  and 
their  bravery,  I  concluded  the  best  mode  of  settling  the  con- 
test was  to  order  the  9th  Ohio  regiment  to  charge  the 
enemy's  position  with  the  bayonet  and  turn  his  left  flank. 
The  order  was  given  the  regiment  to  empty  their  guns  and 
fix  bayonets ;  this  done,  it  was  ordered  to  charge.  Ever\r 
man  sprang  to  it  with  alacrity  and  vociferous  cheering,  the 
enemy  seemingly  prepared  to  resist  it,  but  before  the  regi- 
ment reached  him  the  lines  began  to  give  way.  But  few  of 
them  stood,  possibly  ten  or  twelve. 

This  broke  the  enemy's  flank  and  the  whole  line  gave 
way  in  great  confusion,  and  the  whole  turned  into  a  perfect 
rout.  As  soon  as  I  could  form  the  regiments  of  my  brigade 
I  pursued  the  enemy  to  the  hospital,  where  you  joined  the 
advance.  I  then  moved  mv  command  forward  under  orders 


210  APPENDIX. 

in  line  of  battle  to  the  foot  of  Moulden's  Hill,  passing  on 
the  way  one  abandoned  cannon. 

The  next  morning  we  marched  into  the  deserted  works 
of  the  enemy,  and  on  the  following  day  returned  to  our 
camp.  At  the  time  of  the  first  advance  of  the  9th  Ohio,  I 
was  shot  through  the  right  leg  below  the  knee.  Three 
other  balls  passed  through  my  horse  and  another  through 
my  overcoat.  After  this  I  was  compelled  to  go  on  foot  till 
I  got  to  the  hospital  of  the  enemy.  About  the  time  I  was 
shot  in  the  leg  aid-de-camp  Andrew  S.  Burt  was  shot  in 
the  side. 

Too  much  praise  cannot  be  awarded  to  the  compam- 
officers,  non-commissioned  officers  and  the  soldiers  of  the 
two  regiments.  Notwithstanding  they  had  been  called  out 
before  breakfast  and  had  not  tasted  food  all  day,  they  con- 
ducted themselves  throughout  like  veterans,  obeying  each 
command  and  executing  every  movement  as  though  they 
were  on  parade.  Although  all  the  officers  of  the  command 
evinced  the  greatest  courage  and  deported  themselves  under 
fire  in  a  proper  soldierly  manner,  were  I  to  fail  to  specify 
some  of  them,  it  would  be  great  injustice.  Lieut.  Andrew 
S.  Burt,  aid-de-camp,  of  the  18th  U.  S.  infantry ;  Hunter 
Brooke,  private  of  the  2nd  Minnesota  regiment  and  volun- 
teer aid-de-camp,  Maj.  Gustave  Kammerling  commanding 
the  9th  Ohio ;  Capt.  Charles  Joseph,  Co.  A ;  Capt.  Fred- 
rick Shroder,  Co.  D;  Geo.  H.  Harries,  Adjutant,  of  the  9th 
Ohio  regiment;  Col.  H.  P.  Van  Cleve,  James  George,  Lieut. 
Col.  Alex.  Wilkin,  Major  of  2nd  Minnnesota,  each  displayed 
great  valor  and  judgment  in  the  discharge  of  their  respec- 
tive duties,  so  much  so,  in  my  judgment,  as  to  place  the 
country  and  every  honest  friend  thereof  under  obligations 
to  them. 

In  conclusion,  permit  me,  sir,  to  congratulate  you  upon 
the  victory  achieved  and  allow  me  to  express  the  hope  that 
your  future  efforts  will  be  crowned  with  the  same  success. 

Attached  you  will,  find  the  number  of  the  force  of  my 
brigade  engaged,  and  also  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded. 

I  am  respectfully  yours, 

ROB'T.  L.  McCooK, 

Col.  9th  Ohio  Regiment. 

Commanding  3rd  Brigade,  1st  Division,  Dept.  of  Ohio. 
Brig.  Gen.  Geo.  H.  Thomas,  commanding  1st  Division. 


APPENDIX.  211 

[No.  12.] 

Report  of  Gen.  Geo.  H.  Thomas,  commanding  division. 
( War  of  Rebellion.  Official  Records,  Series  1,  Vol.  7,  page  79.) 

HEADQUARTERS  IST  DIVISION, 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  OHIO. 
SOMERSET,  KY.,  January  31st,  1862. 

CAPTAIN  :  —  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  in  carrying 
out  the  instructions  of  the  general  commanding  the  depart- 
ment, contained  in  his  communication  of  the  29th  of 
December,  I  reached  Logan's  cross  roads,  about  ten  miles 
north  of  the  entrenched  camp  of  the  enemy  on  the  Cumber- 
land river,  on  the  17th  inst.,  with  a  portion  of  the  2nd 
and  3rd  brigades,  Kenny's  battery  of  artillery,  and  a 

battalion  of  Wolford's  cavalry. 

********* 

About  6:30  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  the 
pickets  from  Wolford's  cavalry  encountered  the  enemy 
advancing  on  our  camp,  retired  slowly  and  reported  their 
advance  to  Col.  M.  D.  Manson,  commandingthe  2nd  brigade. 
He  immediately  formed  his  regiment,  the  10th  Indiana,  and 
took  a  position  on  the  road  to  await  the  attack,  ordering 
the  4th  Kentucky  (Col.  S.  S.  Fry)  to  support  him,  and  then 
informed  me  in  person  that  the  enemy  were  advancing  in 
force,  and  what  disposition  he  had  made  to  resist  him.  I 
directed  him  to  join  the  brigade  immediately  and  hold  the 
enemy  in  check  until  I  could  order  up  the  other  troops, 
which  were  ordered  to  form  immediately  and  were  marching 
towards  the  field  in  ten  minutes  afterwards.  The  battalion 
of  Michigan  engineers  and  Company  "A, "38th  Ohio  (Capt. 
Greenwood),  were  ordered  to  remain  as  guards  to  the 
camp. 

Upon  my  arrival  on  the  field  soon  afterwards  I  found  the 
10th  Indiana  formed  in  front  of  their  encampment,  appar- 
ently awaiting  orders,  and  ordered  them  forward  to  the 
support  of  the  4th  Kentucky,  which  was  the  only  entire 
regiment  then  engaged.  I  then  rode  forward  myself  to  see 
the  enemy's  position,  so  that  I  could  determine  what  dis- 
position to  make  of  my  troops  as  they  arrived.  On  reach- 
ing the  position  held  by  the  4th  Kentucky,  10th  Indiana 
and  Wolford's  cavalry,  at  a  point  where  the  roads  fork 
leading  to  Somerset,  I  found  the  enemy  advancing  through 
a  cornfield  and  evidently  endeavoring  to  gain  the  left  of  the 
4th  Kentucky  regiment,  which  was  maintaining  its  position 


212  APPENDIX. 

in  a  most  determined  manner.  I  directed  one  of  my  aides 
to  ride  back  and  order  up  a  section  of  artillery  and  the 
Tennessee  brigade  to  advance  upon  the  eneim-'s  right,  and 
sent  orders  for  Col.  McCook  to  advance  with  his  two 
regiments,  9th  Ohio  and  2nd  Minnesota,  to  support  the  4th 
Kentucky  and  10th  Indiana. 

A  section  of  Capt.  Kenny's  battery  took  position  on  the 
edge  of  the  field  to  the  left  of  the  4th  Kentucky,  and  opened 
an  efficient  fire  on  a  regiment  of  Alabamians  which  were 
advancing  on  the  4th  Kentucky.  Soon  afterwards  the 
2nd  Minnesota  (Col.  H.  P.  Van  Cleve)  arrived,  the  Colonel 
reporting  to  me  for  instructions.  I  directed  him  to  take 
the  position  of  the  4th  Kentucky  and  10th  Indiana,  which 
regiments  were  nearly  out  of  ammunition.  The  9th  Ohio, 
under  the  immediate  command  of  Maj.  Kammerling,  came 
into  position  on  the  right  of  the  road  at  the  same  time. 

Immediately  after  these  regiments  had  gained  their 
positions  the  enem3r  opened  a  most  determined  and  galling 
fire,  which  was  returned  bv  our  troops  in  the  same  spirit, 
and  for  nearly  half  an  hour  the  contest  was  maintained  on 
both  sides  in  the  most  obstinate  manner.  At  this  time  the 
12th  Kentucky  (Col.  W.  A.  Hoskins)  and  the  Tennessee 
brigade  reached  the  field,  to  the  left  of  the  Minnesota  regi- 
ment, and  opened  fire  on  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  who 
then  began  to  fall  back.  The  2nd  Minnesota  kept  up  a 
most  galling  fire  in  front  and  the  9th  Ohio  charged  the 
enemy  on  the  right  with  bayonets  fixed,  turned  their  flank 
and  drove  them  from  the  field,  the  whole  line  giving  away 
and  retreating  in  the  utmost  disorder  and  confusion.  As 
soon  as  the  regiments  could  be  formed  and  refill  their 
cartridge  boxes,  I  ordered  the  whole  force  to  advance.  A 
few  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  battlefield  a  small  force  of 
cavalry  was  drawn  up  near  the  road,  but  a  few  shots  from 
our  artillery  (a  section  of  Standart's  battery)  dispersed 
them,  and  none  of  the  enemy  were  seen  again  until  we 
arrived  in  front  of  their  intrenchments.  As  we  approached 
their  intrenchments  the  division  was  deployed  in  line  of 
battle  and  steadily  advanced  to  the  summit  of  the  hill  at 
Moulden's.  From  this  point  I  directed  their  intrenchments 
to  be  cannonaded,  which  was  done  until  dark  by  Standart's 
and  Wetmore's  batteries.  Kenny's  battery  was  placed  in 
position  on  the  extreme  left,  near  Russell's  house,  from 
which  point  he  was  directed  to  fire  on  their  ferry,  to  deter 
them  from  attempting  to  cross.  On  the  following  morn- 
ing Capt.  Wetmore's  battery  was  ordered  to  Russell's 


APPENDIX.  213 

house,  and  assisted  with  his  Parrot  guns  in  firing  upon  the 
fern'.  Col.  Manson's  brigade  took  position  on  the  left, 
near  Kenny's  battery,  and  every  preparation  was  made  to 
assault  their  intrenchments  on  the  following  morning 
The  14th  Ohio  (Colonel  Steedman)  and  the  10th  Kentucky 
(Colonel  Harlan)  having  joined  from  detached  service  soon 
after  the  repulse  of  the  enemy,  continued  with  their  brigade 
in  the  pursuit,  although  they  could  not  get  up  in  time  to 
join  in  the  fight.  These  two  regiments  were  placed  in  front 
in  my  advance  on  the  intrenchment  the  next  morning,  and 
entered  first.  General  Schoepf  also  joined  me  the  evening  of 
the  19th  with  the  17th,  31st  and  38th  Ohio.  His  entire 
brigade  entered  with  the  other  troops. 

On  reaching  the  intrenchments  we  found  that  the  enemy 
had  abandoned  everything  and  retired  during  the  night. 
Twelve  pieces  of  artillery  with  their  caissons  packed  with 
ammunition,  one  battery  wagon  and  two  forges,  a  large 
amount  of  ammunition,  a  large  number  of  small  arms, 
mostly  the  old  flint-lock  muskets;  150  or  160  wagons,  and 
upwards  of  1,000  horses  and  mules;  a  large  amount  of 
commissary  stores,  intrenching  tools  and  camp  and  garrison 
equipage,  fell  into  our  hands.  A  correct  list  of  all  the 
captured  property  will  be  forwarded  as  soon  as  it  can  be 
made  up  and  the  property  secured. 

The  steam  and  ferry  boats  having  been  burned  by  the 
enemy  in  their  retreat,  it  was  found  impossible  to  cross  the 
river  and  pursue  them;  besides,  their  command  was  com- 
pletely demoralized,  and  retreated  in  great  haste  and  in  all 
directions,  making  the  capture  in  any  numbers  quite  doubt- 
ful if  pursued.  There  is  no  doubt  but  what  the  moral  effect 
produced  by  their  complete  dispersion  will  have  a  more 
decided  effect  in  re-establishing  Union  sentiments  than 
though  they  had  been  captured.  It  -affords  me  much 
pleasure  to  be  able  to  testify  to  the  uniform  steadiness  and 
good  conduct  of  both  officers  and  men  during  the  battle, 
and  I  respectfully  refer  to  the  accompanying  reports  of  the 
different  commanders  for  the  names  of  those  officers  and 
men  whose  good  conduct  was  particularly  noticed  by  them. 

I  regret  to  have  to  report  that  Col.  R.  L.  McCook,  com- 
manding the  3rd  brigade,  and  his  aide,  A.  S.  Burt,  18th U.S. 
Infantry,  were  both  severely  wounded  in  the  first  advance 
of  the  9th  Ohio  regiment,  but  continued  on  duty  until  the 
brigade  returned  to  camp  at  Logan's  cross  roads. 

Col.  S.  S.  Fry,  4th  Kentucky,  was  slightly  wounded, 
whilst  his  regiment  was  gallantly  resisting  the  advance  of 


214 


APPENDIX. 


the  enemy,  during  which  time  Gen  Zollicoffer  fell  from  a 
shot  from  his  (Col.  Fry's)  pistol,  which  no  doubt  con- 
tributed materially  to  the  discomfiture  of  the  enemy. 


The  enemy's  loss  as  far  as  known  is  as  follows:  Brigadier 
General  Zollicoffer,  Lieut.  Bailie  Peyton  and  190  officers, 
non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  killed ;  Lieut.  Col. 
M.  B.  Carter,  Twentieth  Tennessee;  Lieut.  J.  W.  Allen,  Fif- 
teenth Mississippi;  Lieut.  Allen  Morse, Sixteenth  Alabama, 
and  five  officers  of  the  medical  staff  and  81  non-commissioned 
officers  and  privates  taken  prisoners;  Lieut. J.  E.  Patterson, 
Twentieth  Tennessee,  and  A.  J.  Knapp,  Fifteenth  Mississippi, 
and  66  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  wounded, 
making  192  killed,  89  prisoners  not  wounded  and  68 
wounded;  total  of  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  349. 

(NOTE — Crittenden  reports  408  wounded  and  missing, 
which  with  the  192  dead,  buried  by  Thomas,  makes  the 
enemy's  loss  600.) 

Our  loss  as  follows: 


Troops. 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

Officers. 

Men. 

Officers. 

Men. 

lOth  Indiana  

10 

1 
12 
6 

3 

72 
19 
48 
31 
24 

1 

4th  Kentucky  

4 
4 

2nd  Minnesota  

9th  Ohio  

Total  

1 

38 

13 

194 

A  complete  list  of  the  names  of  our  killed  and  wounded 
and  of  the  prisoners  is  herewith  attached. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GEO.  H.  THOMAS, 
Brigadier  General  U.  S.  Volunteers,  Commanding. 

Capt.  J.  B.  FRY,  A.  A.  G., 
Chief  of  Staff,  Headquarters,  Dept.  of  Ohio,  Louisville,  Ky . 


APPENDIX.  215 

(No.  13.) 

INSPECTION  REPORT. 

I  Official  Files,  Adjutant  GeneraFs  Office,  State  of  Minnesota.) 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND, 

MURFREESBORO,  TfiNN.,  February  7th,  1863. 
SIR  :— The  General  commanding  desires  me  to  state  that 
he  is  extremely  gratified  to  learn,  that  your  regiment  is 
among  the  number,  who  may  be  held  up  as  an  example 
worthy  of  imitation.  Men  who  submit  to  discipline  cheer- 
fully, and  take  soldier's  pride  in  their  "personnel,"  he  feels 
confident  can  be  relied  upon  in  an  emergency. 

The  General  desires  you  to  read  this  letter  on  parade. 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)       JAMES  CURTIS, 

Captain  15th  U.  S.  Infantry  and  A.  A.  Inspecting  General. 
To  COL.  GEORGE, 

Commanding  2nd  Minnesota  Volunteers. 


[No.  14.] 

COMPLIMENTARY  ORDERS. 

( Published  in  St.  Paul  Pioneer,  February  28th  1863.) 

HEADQUARTERS  3RD  BRIGADE, 
NEAR  NOLINSVILLE,  TENN.,  February,  1863. 

The  Colonel  commanding  the  brigade,  takes  pleasure  in 
commending  the  conduct  and  sturdy  valor  of  Lovilo  N. 
Holmes  and  fourteen  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates 
of  Company  H,  2nd  Regiment  Minnesota  Volunteers,  for 
the  heroic  defense  made  by  them  near  Nolinsville  on  the 
15th  inst.,  against  the  attack  of  two  companies  ot  rebel 
cavalry  numbering  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  men,  and 
repulsing  them  with  loss. 

This  little  affair  is  one  of  the  most  creditable  of  the  cam- 
paign and  deserves  to  be  remembered  and  cited  as  worthy 
the  emulation  of  all. 

The  Colonel  desires  that  the  names  of  these  worthy  men 
and  brave  soldiers  may  be  preserved. 

First  Sergeant  Lovilo  N.  Holmes. 

Corporals  Samuel  Wright  and  William  A.  Clark, 


216  APPENDIX. 

Privates  Nelson  Crandall,  James  Flannigan,  Samuel  Les- 
lie, Louis  Londrash,  Charles  Liscomb,  Joseph  Burger,  By- 
ron E.  Pay,  Charles  Krause,  John   Vale,   Samuel   Loudon, 
Milton  Hanna  and  Homer  Barnard,  have  his  thanks. 
By  order  of  F.  VAN  DERVEER, 

Colonel  commanding  3rd  Brigade. 
JOHN  R.  BEATTY, 

A.  A.  Adjutant  General. 

[No.  15.] 

GENERAL  STEEDMAN'S  REPORT. 

(Refers  to  No.  14.) 

(War  of  Rebellion,  Official  Records,   Vol.  22,  Part  1,  page 
49,  Series  1.) 

REPORT  OF  BRIG.  GEN'L  JAMES  B.  STEEDMAN. 

CONCORD  CHURCH,  February  15th,  1863. 
COLONEL: — A  forage  train  often  wagons  from  my  com- 
mand, .with  escort  of  two  companies  of  infant^ ;  and  while 
four  of  the  wagons  guarded  by  13  privates  under  the  com- 
mand of  a  Sergeant,  were  being  loaded  one  and  a  half  miles 
from  Nolinsville,  were  attacked  by  one  hundred  and  fifty 
rebel  cavalry.  The  Sergeant  immediately  formed  his  men, 
took  shelter  in  a  cabin  near  the  wagons  and  repulsed  them, 
wounding  five,  three  of  whom  I  have  prisoners,  killing  four 
horses,  capturing  three  horses,  seven  saddles  and  three  guns. 

Two  of  our  men  were  slightlv  wounded. 

*  *  *  *'*  *  *  * 

Very  respectful!}', 

JAMES  B.  STEEDMAN, 
Brigadier  General  Third  Division. 
COLONEL.  C.  GODDARD, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General  and  Chief  of  Staff. 

[No.  16.] 

BATTLES  OF  CHICAMAUGA. 

Report  of  Col.  James  George,  commanding  regiment. 
(Official  Files,  Adjutant  General's  Office,  State  of  Minnesota. ) 

HEADQUARTERS  2ND  REGIMENT, 

MINNESOTA  VOLUNTEERS. 
CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.  Sept.  25,  1863. 
GENERAL:  — I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  the  following 
report  of  the  part  taken  by  the  2nd  regiment  of  Minnesota 


APPENDIX.  217 

volunteers  in  the  battles  of  the  19th  and  20th  inst.  near 
Crawfish  Spring,  Georgia : 

The  regiment  was  placed  in  position  at  ten  o'clock  A.  M. 
on  the  19th  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  brigade  and  next 
battery  "I"  4th  U.  S.  artillery,  facing  the  south.  A  few 
minutes  later  the  enemy  approached  in  front  in  line  to  about 
300  yards  and  opened  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry,  which  was 
returned  with  such  effect  as  to  repulse  the  attack ;  in  about 
ten  minutes  another  attack  was  soon  after  made  and  met 
with  a  like  repulse,  the  enemy  falling  back  in  disorder, 
entirely  out  of  sight. 

About  half-past  ten  o'clock  sharp  firing  of  musketry  was 
suddenly  opened  at  some  distance  in  our  left  and  front  which 
soon  began  to  approach  us.  The  cartridge  boxes  had  been 
replenished,  and  the  regiment  was  laid  down  in  line  to  await 
its  time;  the  men  having  been  admonished  to  withhold  their 
fire  until  the  enemy  should  be  within  close  range. 

There  soon  appeared  approaching  in  disorder  from  the 
left  front  a  line  of  our  troops  in  full  retreat  and  closely  pur- 
sued by  the  enemy  who  was  cheering  and  firing  furiously  in 
their  rear.  It  proved  to  be  the  regular  brigade,  the  men  of 
which  passed  over  our  line  and  were  afterwards  partially 
rallied  in  our  rear  and  on  our  left. 

As  soon  as  these  troops  had  passed  us,  the  further  ad- 
vance of  the  enemy  was  checked  by  a  volley  from  our  line. 
A  sharp  contest  with  musketry  followed  which  resulted  in 
a  few  minutes  in  the  complete  repulse  of  the  late  exultant 
enemy,  who  fled  from  our  front  in  confusion. 

About  eleven  o'clock  a  large  force  was  discovered  advanc- 
ing on  us  from  the  east  and  simultaneously  from  the  north. 
Our  front  was  immediately  changed  to  the  left  to  meet  this 
attack,  and  after  a  few  minutes  fighting  the  enemy  seeming 
to  be  moved  around  to  the  northward ;  our  front  was  again 
changed  to  the  left,  under  a  hot  fire,  so  that  the  regiment 
faced  the  northeast,  and  again  finally  to  face  the  north  as 
the  enemy  massed  his  troops  for  an  assault  from  that  direc- 
tion. The  enemy  charged  desperately  and  were  finally  com- 
pletely repulsed  and  routed  after  a  brief  but  bloody  contest. 

The  fighting  ended  with  us  at  about  11:30  A.  M.  Our  loss 
was  eight  killed  and  forty-one  wounded,  including  two  com- 
missioned officers.  None  missing.  The  regiment  commenced 
the  battle  with  384  officers  and  Unlisted  men. 

On  the  20th  the  regiment  took  place  in  the  brigade  with 
295  officers  and  men,  forty  men  having  been  detached  for 


218  APPENDIX. 

picket  duty  the  previous  evening  and  not  relieved  when  the 
regiment  marched. 

At  ten  A.  M.  the  regiment,  on  the  right  of  the  brigade  was 
advanced  into  an  open  field  to  the  support  of  a  battery 
which  was  in  action  immediately  on  our  right,  the  line  fac- 
ing the  east.  Scarcely  had  the  line  been  halted  in  its  assigned 
place  when  a  furious  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery  was 
opened  on  it  from  the  edge  of  woods  bordering  the  field  on 
the  north  and  300  or  400  yards  distant.  The  brigade  front 
was  instantly  changed  to  the  left,  the  movement  being  made 
in  good  order,  though  under  fire,  and  our  line  at  once  opened 
on  the  enemy.  After  a  few  minutes  firing  a  charge  was 
ordered,  and  we  advanced  on  the  double-quick  across  the 
field  and  into  the  woods,  driving  the  enemy  back  upon  their 
supports.  Here  the  engagement  was  continued  for  fifteen  or 
twenty  minutes,  when  the  enemy  moved  off  by  their  right 
flank,  clearing  our  front  and  getting  out  of  our  range,  even 
when  firing  left  oblique.  The  regiment  was  then  withdrawn, 
and  the  brigade  reformed  facing  north. 

Presently  an  artillery  fire  was  opened  on  us  from  the  east, 
and  our  front  was  changed  to  face  it.  After  remaining  here 
in  position  for  about  half  an  hour,  we  were  moved  off  a  dis- 
tance of  a  mile  or  more  to  a  hill  on  the  right  of  our  general 
line  of  battle,  where  at  2:30  P.  M.  we  again  became  hotly 
engaged  with  musketry.  The  enemy  charged  repeatedly  and 
desperately  on  our  position  here,  but  were  repulsed  by  the 
cool  and  deadly  fire  of  our  rifles ;  the  firing  here  continued 
without  intermission  until  4:45  P.  M.,  when  the  enemy  tem- 
porarily withdrew  from  the  contest.  Two  other  attacks 
were  afterwards  made  on  us  here,  but  both  were  repulsed 
and  darkness  ended  the  fight  at  about  6:30  p.  M. 

Our  loss  on  this  day  was  twenty-seven  killed  and  seventy- 
two  wounded,  being  more  than  one-third  of  our  entire  num- 
ber. None  missing.  Some  eight  or  ten  men  of  other  com- 
mands who  joined  us  temporarily  were  killed  while  bravely 
fighting  in  our  ranks.  I  regret  that  I  cannot  give  their 
names  and  regiments. 

The  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  of  my  regiment  was 
on  both  days  uniformly  gallant  and  soldier-like  beyond 
praise.  If  any  one  of  them  failed  in  doing  his  whole  ditty  I 
do  not  know  it. 

Assistant  Surgeon  Otis  Ayer,  and  Hospital  Steward  A. 
Buckingham,  were  captured  from  field  hospital  Sept.  20, 


APPENDIX. 


219 


and  are  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  A  good  por- 
tion of  pur  wounded  men  were  left  lying  on  the  field  and  are 
now  prisoners  in  hands  of  the  enemy. 

I  am  General,  very  respectfully, 
Your  most  obedient  servant, 

JAS.  GEORGE, 
Commanding  2nd  Minn.  Vols. 


[No.  17.] 


BATTLES  OF  CHICAMAUGA. 


List  of  the  killed  and  wounded  in  the  Second  Regiment, 
Minnesota  Vols.,  during  the  late  battles  near  Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn.,  Sept.  19th  and  20th,  1863. 

( Official  Files,  Adjutant  General's  Office,  Stale  of  Minnesota. ) 


Name.  Rank  and  Co. 

John  B.  Davis Major 

Peter  G.  Wheeler... Sergt.  Maj. 

Abram  Kalder Sergt.  A 

Thos.  Fitch Corpl.  A 

M.  D.  E.  Runals... .Private  A 

Ozias  M.  Work A 

Eben  E.  Corliss A 

Chas.  A.  Edwards.  A 

Manley  S.  Harris..  A 

D.  M.  Morse A 

Chas.  A.  Rouse A 

Fred.  H.  Russell....  A 

Robt.  Smalley A 

Abram  Harkins Captain  B 

M.V.  Dietre Corpl.  B 

A.  V.  Doty Private  B 

John  L.  Kenney 

Granville  Farrier... 

Wm.  Swan 

Manning  Bailey....  B 

E.  V.  Comstock B 

F.  Kelsey 

Chas.  Lane B 

C.J.  Lange 

J.  C.  Kitchell 

David  Bush 

H.  G.  Smith B 


Nature  of  Wound. 
Flesh  wound,  temple. 
Flesh  wound,  chin. 
Slight,  in  arm. 
Severely,  in  nose  and  arm. 
Severely,  in  left  lung. 
Severely,  in  body  and  leg. 
Slight,  in  head. 
Slight,  in  hand. 
Slight,  in  hand. 
Severely,  in  face  and  arm. 
Severely,  in  head. 
Severely,  in  arm. 
Severely,  in  body. 
Comp.  fracture,  right  arm 
Severel}',  in  leg. 
Fracture,  left  leg. 
Severely,  in  leg. 
Severely,  in  leg. 
Severely,  in  arm. 
Slight,  in  hand. 
Slight,  in  hand. 
Slight,  in  shoulder. 
Slight,  in  shoulder. 
Slight,  in  head. 
Slight,  in  arm. 
Slight,  in  shoulder. 
Slight,  in  head. 


APPENDIX. 


Name.  Rank  and  Co.          Nature  of  Wound. 

M.  Thoenv 2nd  Lieut.  C  Slight,  in  wrist. 

Wm.  Mills 1st   Lieut.  C  Slight,  in  arm. 

M.  L.  Devereaux...  Sergt.  C  Slight,  in  shoulder. 

J.J.  Casseday Corpl.  C  Slight,  in  hip. 

A.  Hochstetter "  C  Slight,  in  head. 

P.  Grunenwald "  C  Slight,  in  left  side, 

C.  Matti "  C  Severely,  in  leg. 

M.  Rowhan "  C  Slight,  in  foot. 

T.  D.  Orcutt "  C  Slight,  in  leg. 

G.H.Ames Private  C  Slight,  in  leg. 

J.B.Gere "  C  Mortal,  in  both  knees. 

John  Fern "  C  Slight,  in  arm. 

C.  Alden "  C  Slight,  in  leg. 

D.C.Morgan "  C  Slight,  in  leg. 

A.  R.  Hall Sergt.  D  Severely,  in  breast. 

S.  B.  Holship "  D  Slight,  in  head. 

E.  B.  Nettleton Corpl.  D  Slight,  in  arm. 

G.  M.  Gilchrist Private  D  Severely,  in  body. 

W.H.Wiley '  D  Severely,  in  head. 

G.  W.  Fowler '  D  Severely,  in  hand. 

John  Spring % '  D  Severely,  in  hip. 

Felix  Carriveau '  D  Severely,  in  hands. 

Henry  Vessey '  D  Severely,  in  leg. 

Chas.  Clewett '  D  Severely,  in  arm. 

Ben  S3^1vester 1st  Sergt.  E  Severely,  in  left  arm. 

A.  A.  Stone Sergt.  E  Severely,  in  leg  and  hip. 

Solon  Cheadle Corpl.  E  Slightly,  in  foot. 

Nicholas  Sons "  E  Slightly,  in  leg. 

Eli  Huggins "  E  Severely,  in  wrist. 

I.  W.  French Private  E  Severely,  in  shoulder. 

James  Flora "  E  Severely,  in  side. 

James  Spencer.......       "  E  Severely,  in  both  legs. 

Lewis  Swenson "  E  Slightly,  in  shoulder. 

James  Smith "  E  Slightly,  in  arm. 

Joseph  Smith "  E  Slightly,  in  side. 

Peter  M.  Freteuff..       "  E  Severely,  in  hand. 

S'amuel  Bowler "  E  Severely,  in  leg. 

W.L.Jones "  E  Severely,  in  shoulder. 

Edwin  Knudson....       "  E  Slightly,  in  head. 

Benj.  Warrant "  E  Severely,  in  hips. 

G.W.Wallace :  1st  Sergt.  F  Severely,  in  right  shoulder 

Paul  Caviezell Sergt.  F  Slightly,  in  thigh. 

Henry  Oaks Private  F  Severely,  in  head. 

Thos,  A.  Tiernan...       "  F  Severely,  in  foot. 


APPENDIX. 


221 


Name. 


Rank  and  Co. 


Jas.  M.  Thornton.. Private  F 

Joseph  Bird "  p 

Michael  McCarthy       "  F 

H.  V.  Rumohr 1st  Sergt.  G 

J.  A.  Smith Corpl.  G 

Henry  Bush "  G 

Peter  Douthiel Private  G 

Peter  Freyman "  G 

Chas.  Janke "  G 

Geo.  Reed "  G 

Bateus  Weber "  G 

Thos.  G.  Quayle....2nd  Lieut.  H 

Josiah  Keene Sergt.  H 

Milton  Hanna Corp.  H 

John  S.  Hilliard "  H 

A.B.Rose "  H 

Saml.  Loudon Private  H 

S.A.Mitchell "  H 

Chas.  Krause "  H 

Byron  E.  Pay "  H 

Cyrus  W.Sniith....       "  H 

Lewis  Londrosh....       "  H 

E.  T.  Cressey "  H 

Albert  Gesel" "  H 

Albert  Parker Corpl.  I 

Adam  Wickert "  I 

H.  T.  Whipple Private  I 

W.  S.  Wells "  I 

C.  C.  Handy "  I 

Isaac  Lavman "  I 

D.  S.  Coverdale 2nd  Lieut.  K 

John  R.  Barber Corpl.  K 

Robt.  McClellan... .Private  K 

Edwin  Baird "  K 

V.  R.  Barton... "  K 

Lyman  S.  Martin..       "  K 

John  McAlpin "  K 

Henry  Roberts '  K 

John  Shouts '  K 

Wm.  Hamilton '  K 

John  C.  Smith '  K 

Samuel  Fleming '  K 

Chas.  Fewster 1st  Sergt.  A 

Norman  E.  Case.... Corpl.  A 


Nature  of  Wound. 
Severely,  in  foot. 
Slightly,  in  thigh. 
Slightly,  in  leg. 
Severely,  in  nose. 
Severely,  in  arm. 
Slightly,  in 
Severely,  in  shoulder. 
Severely,  in  head. 
Severely,  in  hands  and  leg. 
Slightly,  in  thigh. 
Severely,  in  side. 
Slightly,  in  left  hip. 
Severely,  in  left  arm. 
Severely,  in  leg. 
Severely,  in  leg. 
Mortally,  in  hip^. 
Slightly,  in  leg.  " 
Severely,  in  leg. 
Mortally,  in  body. 
Severely,  in  shoulder. 
Severely, in  arm  and  foot. 
Slightly,  in  hand. 
Slightly,  in  shoulder. 
Slightly,  in  foot. 
Severely,  in  thigh. 
Slightly,  in  side. 
Severely,  in  foot. 
Severely,  in  thigh. 
Slightly,  in  finger. 
Severely,  in  arm. 
Slightly,  in  left  hip. 
Slightly,  in  finger. 
Mortally,  in  body. 
Severely,  in  arm. 
Severely,  in  hand  and  leg. 
Severely,  in  arm. 
Severely,  in  body  and  leg. 
Severely,  in  side. 
Severely,  in  side. 
Severely,  in  wrist. 
Severely,  in  shoulder. 
Slightly,  in  knee. 
Killed." 


222 


APPENDIX. 


Name. 


Rank  and  Co. 


Nature  of  Wound. 
Killed. 


C.  S.  Cutting Corpl. 

S.  D.  Calvert Private  B 

A.  H.  Palmer "  B 

S.Taylor "  B 

F.  I.  Crabb "  B 

J.  McAuliff Sergt.  C 

Jacob  Martig Private  C 

C.  Schilt "  C 

S.  B.  Neros "  C 

Wm.  Dudley Sergt.  D 

John  Sherburne Corp.  D 

Alfonso  Bogan Private  D 

Geo.  H.  Fry 1st  Sergt.  F 

D   B.  Griffin Corpl. 

Cornelius  Holland. Private  F 

Herman  Raduentz.       "  G 

Charles  Schuele "  G 

Jacob  Seibert "  G 

Francis  T.  Sutorius       "  G 

John  M.  Foster Sergt.  H 

Nicholas  Weiss Corpl.  H 

John  B.  Hopewell.. Private  H 

Alfred  W.  Bigelow..       "  H 

Wm.  H.  Weagunt..       "  H 
Arnold  Cochrane... Corpl.  I 

Wardwell  Mathers. Private         I         " 

Wm.  McCurdy " 

Joseph  Shonmaker.       "  I 

Freeman  Schneider.       "  I 

I.  B.  Pomeroy Sergt.  K 

Alex.  Metzger Corpl.  K 

John  A.  Cutting Private  K 

Jas.  A.  Bigelow "  K 

Total  commissioned  officers  wounded 6 

Total  enlisted  men  wounded 107 

Total  enlisted  men  killed...  35 


(wounded  only.) 


Total  loss 148 

Assistant  Surgeon  Otis  Aver  and  hospital 
Steward,  F.  Buckingham  captured  at  field 
hospital 2 

The  above  is  as  complete  a  list  of  the  casualities  of  the  2nd 
Minnesota  regiment  as  can  be  obtained  at  the  present  time ; 


APPENDIX. 


223 


many  of  those  wounded  in  the  second  day's  fight  were  left 
in  the  enemy's  hands.  The  regiment  behaved  most  gal- 
lantly, not  a  man  left  the  ranks  but  that  was  known  to  be 
either  killed  or  wounded.  The  wounded  at  this  place  are 
doing  well,  and  are  as  comfortable  as  could  be  expected. 

Lt.  Albert  Woodbury,  2nd  Minnesota  Battery,  is  here, 
severely  wounded  in  the  left  arm  above  the  elbow  joint. 
I  remain,  yours  truly, 

M.  C.  "TOLMAN, 

Surgeon  2nd  Minnesota  Volunteers, 
Medical  Director  3rd  Division,  14th  A.  C.,  D.  C. 

These  men  were  detailed  to  care  for  our  wounded  men 
and  were  captured  in  performing  that  duty: 
George  A.   Baker,  private,  Co.    B. 


Jediah  Furman, 
Hiram  A.  Stewart, 
Ashley  W.  Wood, 
John  Stueke}', 
Charles  Sweeney, 
Peter  Wai  rick, 
Washington  Maguire, 
Henry  Oaks, 
Uriah  S.  Karmany, 
John  S.  Bertrand, 
William  B.  Haskin, 


B. 
B. 
B. 
C. 
C. 
C. 
D. 
F. 
H. 
I. 


K. 

12  captured. 

Total  loss  162,  42  2-10  per  cent  of  384  men  engaged. 


(No.  18.) 


BATTLE  OF  CHICAMAUGA. 


Suppjementary  report  by  COL.  JAMES  GEORGE. 
(Adjutant  General's  Report  for  1863,  State  of  Minnesota). 

HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  MINNESOTA 

REGIMENT  VOLUNTEERS, 

CHATTANOOGA,  Tennessee,  September  30,  1863. 
GENERAL:  — For  the  purpose  of  placing  on  record  the 
names  of  those  officers  and  men,  who  for  gallant  and  meri- 
torious conduct  on  the  battlefield  of  the  Chicamauga  are 
entitled  to  special  mention,  I  respectfully  submit  the  fol- 
lowing list  as  supplementary  to  the  general  report  of  the 
operations  of  my  regiment,  a  copy  of  which  has  already 
been  transmitted  to  your  office. 


224  APPENDIX. 

I  am  under  special  obligations  to  my  staff  and  field  offi- 
cers. More  praiseworthy  exhibitions  of  coolness  and  cour- 
age under  fire  were  never  made  upon  any  field  of  battle. 
They  each  deserve  much  of  their  country,  not  onry  for  their 
gallant  conduct  in  these  battles,  but  for  their  uniform 
industry  and  ability  in  the  faithful  discharge  of  every  duty. 
Such  officers  are  a  credit  to  the  State  and  to  the  service. 

Lieut.  Col.  J.  W.  Bishop  had  his  horse  shot  under  him  in 
the  second  day's  battle,  but  kept  his  place  on  foot,  it  being 
impossible  at  the  time  to  get  a  re-mount. 

Major  John  B.  Davis  also  had  his  horse  shot  under  him, 
and  was  soon  after  wounded  in  the  forehead  with  a  frag- 
ment of  shell,  but  kept  his  post  during  the  battle,  which 
lasted  several  hours  afterwards. 

Adjutant  James  W.  Wood  had  his  horse  shot  under  him, 
but  continued  in  the  active  discharge  of  his  duty  on  foot. 

Assistant  Surgeon  William  Brown  was  engaged  in  dress- 
ing the  wounded  on  the  field,  and  frequently  under  fire 
both  days. 

Assistant  Surgeon  Otis  Ayer  remained  at  his  post  attend- 
ing to  our  wounded,  and  while  thus  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duty  became  a  prisoner.  He  was  afterwards  exchanged 
and  has  re-joined  his  regiment. 

Of  the  company  officers,   there   were  present  with  their 
respective  companies,  and  each  in  the  energetic,  faithful  and 
fearless  discharge  of  his  duty,  the  following: 
Capt.  Abraham  Harkins,  Co.  B,  severely  wounded  2nd  day. 
Capt.  John   Moulton,        Co.  D. 
Capt.  J.  C.  Donahower,       "     E. 
Capt.   D.    B.   Loomis  "     F. 

Capt.   C.   F.   Meyer,  "     G. 

Capt.   C.  S.   Uline,  "      I. 

Capt.  W.  W.  Woodbury,     "    K. 

1st  Lieut.    Levi  Ober,        "     A,  commanding  his  company. 
1st  Lieut.  W.  W.  Wilson,     "     B. 

1st  Lieut.  H.  K.  Couse,       "     C,  commanding  his  company. 
1st  Lieut.  S.  G.  Trimble,      "     D. 
1st  Lieut.  J.  S.  Livingston,"     F. 

1st  Lieut.  H.  V.  Rumohr,    "     G,-  wounded  in  face  2nd  day. 
1st  Lieut.  L.  N.  Holmes,      "    H.  commanding  his  company. 
1st  Lieut.  Tenbroek  Stout,"      I. 
2nd  Lieut.  E.  L.  Kenny,       "     A. 

2nd  Lieut.  M.  Thoeny,        "     C,  wounded  in  hand  1st  day. 
2nd  Lieut.  H.  Lobdell,          "     D. 
2nd  Lieut.  T.  G.  Scott,        "    E. 

2nd  Lieut.  T.  G.  Quale,        "     H,  wounded  in  hip  2nd  day. 
2nd  Lieut.  D.  S.  Coverdale,"     K,  wounded  in  thigh  1st  day. 


APPENDIX.  225 

Sergt.  Maj.  P.  C.  Wheeler  was  slightly  wounded  in  the 
chin  the  first  day. 

Orderly  M.  D.  E.  Rtmals  and  bugler  Albert  Gsell  are 
entitled  to  special  mention  for  their  gallant  and  prompt 
discharge  of  their  duties,  under  fire.  Both  were  severely 
wounded. 

The  following  named  men  are  also  reported  to  me  by 
their  company  commanders  as  having  specially  distin- 
guished themselves  in  the  line  of  duty,  on  the  battlefield, 
while  without  exception,  all  present  are  credited  with  gal- 
lant and  soldier-like  conduct : 

Sergeant  Alonzo  Worden,  Corporal  A.  McCorkle,  and 
Private  James  W.  Stewart,  of  Company  A. 

Sergeants  John  McAuliff  and  Robert  S.  Hutchinson  and 
Private  James  B.  Gere,  of  Company  C. 

Sergeants  Albert  R.  Hall  and  Rollin  A.  Lampher  and 
Private  Gideon  M.  Gilchrist,  of  Company  D. 

Sergeant  Benjamin  Sylvester,  Corporal  O.  P.  Renne  and 
Private  Michael  Horrigan,  of  Company  E. 

Corporal  John  A.  Smith  and  Privates  Janke  and  Weber, 
of  Company  G. 

Private  William  S.  Wells,  of  Company  I. 

Sergeants  A.  H.  Reed  and  John  D.  Burr  and  Private 
William  B.  C.  Evans,  of  Company  K. 

Very  respectfully  yours,  etc., 

OSCAR  MALMROS,  J.  GEORGE, 

Adjutant  General.  Colonel  Commanding 

State  of  Minnesota.         2nd  Minnesota  Volunteers. 


(No.  19.) 

BATTLE  OF  CHICAMAUGA. 

Report  of  COL.  F.  VAN  DERVEER,  commanding  Brigade: 

(Official  Files,   Adjutant  General's  Office,  State  of  Minne- 
sota.) 

HEADQUARTERS  SRD  BRIGADE, 

3RD  DIVISION,  14-TH  A.  C., 
CHATTANOOGA,  Tenn.,  Sept.  25th,  1863. 
Capt.  Louis  J.  Lambert,  A.  A.  G.: 

CAPTAIN  :  —I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  part  taken  by 
the  3rd  Brigade  in  the  actions  of  the  19th  and  20th  mst., 
near  the  Chicamauga.  My  command  consisted  of  the  2nd 
Minnesota,  Col.  George;  the  9th  Ohio,  Col.  Kammerling; 
the  35th  Ohio.  Lt  Col.  Boynton;  the  87th  Indiana,  Col. 


16 


226  APPENDIX. 

Gleason;  and  Battery  "I,"  4th  Artillery,  1st  Lt.  F.  G. 
Smith.  Our  effective  strength  on  the  morning  of  the  19th 
inst.,  was  1,788  officers  and  men. 

After  a  fatiguing  march  during  the  night  of  the  18th, 
and  without  an\r  sleep  or  rest,  whilst  halting  near  Kelly's 
house  on  the  Rossville  and  Lafa/yette  road,  I  received  an 
order  from  Brig.  Gen.  Brannan,  commanding  the  3rd  Divis- 
ion, to  move  with  haste  along  the  road  to  Reed's  bridge 
over  the  Chicamauga,  take  possession  of  a  ford  near  that 
point  and  hold  it.  I  immediately  moved  southward  to 
McDaniel's  house,  and  thence  at  right  angles  eastwardly 
toward  the  bridge.  A  short  distance  from  McDaniel's  I 
formed  the  brigade  into  two  lines,  sent  skirmishers  to  the 
front  and  advanced  cautiously,  though  without  losing  time, 
one  and  one-half  miles.  In  the  meantime  brisk  firing  was 
progressing  on  my  right,  understood  to  be  maintained  by 
the  1st  and  2nd  Brigades  of  this  Division. 

Being  without  a  guide  and  entirely  unacquainted  with 
the  country,  I  am  unable  to  state  how  near  I  went  to 
Reed's  bridge,  but  perceiving  from  the  firing  on  my  right 
that  I  was  passing  the  enemy's  flank,  I  wheeled  my  line  in 
that  direction  and  began  feeling  his  position  with  my 
skirmishers.  About  this  time  I  received  an  order,  stating 
that  the  2nd  brigade  was  gradually  giving  back,  and  that 
it  was  necessary  I  should  at  once  make  an  attack.  This 
we  did  with  a  will ;  the  first  line,  composed  of  the  35th 
Ohio  on  the  right,  and  the  2nd  Minnesota  on  the  left, 
moving  down  a  gentle  slope,  leaving  the  87th  Indiana  in 
reserve  on  the  crest  of  the  hill. 

At  this  time  the  9th  Ohio,  which  had  charge  of  the 
ammunition  train  of  the  division,  had  not  arrived.  Smith's 
battery,  composed  of  four  twelve-pound  Napoleons,  were 
placed  in  position  in  the  centre  and  on  the  right  of  the  line. 
The  enemy  having  discovered  our  position  opened  a  furious 
fire  of  artiller}-  and  musketry,  which  was  replied  to 
promptly  and  apparently  with  considerable  effect,  for  in 
half  an  hour  the  enerm-  slackened  his  fire  and  his  advance 
line  was  compelled  to  fall  back.  I  took  advantage  of  this 
movement  to  bring  forward  the  87th  Indiana,  and  by  a 
passage  of  lines  to  the  front  carried  them  to  the  relief  of  the 
35th  Ohio,  which  had  already  suffered  severely  in  the 
engagement.  This  movement  was  executed  with  as  much 
coolness  and  accuracy  as  if  on  drill.  Scarcely  was  the  87th 
Indiana  in  line  before  fresh  forces  of  the  enemy  were  brought 


APPENDIX.  227 

up,  in  time  to  receive  from  us  a  terrible  volley  which  made 
his  ranks  stagger  and  held  him  some  time  at  bay. 

The  9th  Ohio,  which  I  had  previously  sent  for,  arrived  at 
this  moment.  I  placed  it  on  the  right  of  my  line.  Still  fur- 
ther to  the  right  a  section  of  Church's  battery  and  the  17th 
Ohio,  which  had  been  ordered  to  report  to  me,  were  in 
position  as  the  enemy  slackened  their  fire.  Col.  Kammerling, 
chafing  like  a  wounded  tiger  that  he  had  been  behind  at  the 
opening,  ordered  his  men  to  charge;  away  they  went, 
closely  followed  by  the  87th  Indiana  and  17th  Ohio,  the 
enemy  falling  back  precipitately.  The  9th  in  this  charge 
recaptured  the  guns  in  Guenther's  battery,  5th  artillery, 
and  held  them. 

In  the  meantime  the  enemy,  massing  his  forces  suddenly, 
appeared  upon  my  left  and  rear ;  he  came  forward  several 
lines  deep  at  a  double-quick,  and  opened  a  brisk  fire,  but 
not  before  I  had  changed  my  front  to  resist  him.  My  new 
line  consisted  of  the  2nd  Minnesota  on  the  right,  next  one 
section  of  Smith's  battery,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Rodney, 
then  the  87th  Indiana,  flanked  by  Church's  and  the  other 
sections  of  Smith's  battery,  and  on  the  extreme  left  the 
35th  Ohio.  The  two  extremities  of  the  line  formed  an 
obtuse  angle,  the  vertex  on  the  left  of  the  87th  Indiana, 
and  the  opening  toward  the  enemy.  The  2nd  Minnesota 
and  87th  Indiana  lay  on  the  ground  and  were  apparently 
unobserved  by  the  enemy,  who  moved  upon  the  left  of  my 
lines,  delivering  and  receiving  a  direct  fire.  Church  opened 
with  all  his  guns,  and  Smith  with  one  section.  He  advanced 
rapidly,  my  left  giving  way  slowly  until  his  flank  was 
brought  opposite  my  right  wing,  when  a  murderous  and 
enfilading  fire  was  poured  into  his  ranks  by  the  infantry 
and  by  Rodney's  section  shotted  with  canister.  Notwith- 
standing this,  he  moved  steadily  up  his  second  and  third 
lines. 

Having  observed  his  great  force  as  well  as  the  persist- 
ency of  his  attack,  I  had  sent  messenger  after  messenger  to 
bring  up  the  9th  Ohio,  which  had  not  yet  returned  from  its 
charge  made  from  my  original  site.  At  last,  however,  and 
when  it  seemed  impossible  for  my  brave  men  to  longer 
withstand  the  impetuous  advance  of  the  enemy,  the  9th 
came  gallantly  up  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  final  struggle, 
which  resulted  in  his  sudden  withdrawal.  In  this  last  at- 
tack his  loss  must  have  been  very  severe.  In  addition  to 
the  heavy  fire  of  the  infantry,  our  guns  were  pouring  double 


228  APPENDIX. 

charges  of  canister  in  front  and  on  his  flanks,  at  one  time 
delivered  at  a  distance  of  not  exceeding  forty  (40)  yards. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  contest  reinforcements  had 
arrived,  and  were  by  Gen.  Brannan,  then  present,  formed 
in  line  for  the  purpose  of  supporting  my  brigade,  but  were 
not  actively  engaged  at  this  time.  Our  dead  and  wounded 
were  gathered  up  and  a  new  line,  under  the  supervision  of 
Gen.  Brannan,  was  formed.  The  enemy,  however,  made  no 
further  demonstration,  and  quietly  withdrew.  A  small 
number  of  prisoners  were  taken,  who  reported  that  the 
force  opposed  to  us  was  two  divisions  of  Longstreet's 
corps,  one  commanded  by  Gen.  Hood.  They  fought  with 
great  obstinacy  and  determination,  only  retreating  when 
fairly  swept  away  by  our  overwhelming  fire.  Alter  the 
second  withdrawal  by  the  enemy  our  empty  cartridge  boxes 
were  replenished  by  wagons  sent  into  the  field  by  the 
General  commanding  the  division. 

After  resting  my  command  for  an  hour  or  more,  I  was 
ordered  to  report  to  Maj.  Gen.  Re3'nolds.  Immediately 
moving  towards  his  position,  we  arrived  near  Kelly's  house 
just  before  sundown,  and  there,  by  direction  of  Gen. 
Brannan,  went  into  bivouac. 

At  8  o'clock  the  next  morning,  Sunday,  the  20th  Sept., 
1863,  my  brigade  was  posted  as  a  reserve  in  the  rear  of  the 
1st  and  2nd  brigades  of  the  division,  formed  in  two  lines  of 
columns  closed  in  mass,  where  we  remained  for  about  an 
hour,  slowly  moving  over  towards  the  left  for  the  purpose 
of  occupj'ing  the  space  between  the  3rd  and  Reynold's 
division.  There  I  received  an  order  to  move  quickly  over  to 
the  left  and  support  Gen.  Baird  who,  it  was  said,  was  being 
hard  pressed  b}^  the  enemy.  I  wheeled  my  battalions  to  the 
left,  deployed  both  lines  and  moved  through  the  woods 
parallel  to  the  Chattanooga  road,  gradually  swinging 
round  my  left  until,  when  in  rear  of  Reynold's  position,  I 
struck  the  road  perpendicularly  at  a  point  just  north  of 
Kelly's  house,  near  and  back  of  his  lines. 

On  approaching  the  road,  riding  in  advance  of  the 
brigade,  my  attention  was  called  to  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy  moving  southward  in  four  lines,  just  then  emerging 
from  the  woods  at  a  run,  evidently  intending  to  attack 
Reynolds  and  Baird,  who  were  both  hotly  engaged,  in  the 
rear,  and  apparently  unseen  by  those  officers.  I  immediately 
wheeled  my  lines  to  the  left,  facing  the  approaching  force, 
and  ordered  them  to  lie  down.  This  movement  was  not 
executed  until  we  received  a  galling  fire,  delivered  from  a 


APPENDIX.  229 

distance  of  two  hundred  (200)  yards.  At  the  same  time  a 
rebel  battery  placed  in  the  road  about  five  (5)  or  six  (6) 
hundred  yards  in  our  front,  opened  upon  us  with  two  (2) 
guns.  My  command  continued  to  lie  down  until  the  enemy 
approached  within  seventy-five  (75)  feet,  and  the  front  line 
composed  of  the  2nd  Minnesota  and  87th  Indiana,  delivered 
a  murderous  fire  almost  in  their  faces,  and  the  35th  and  9th 
Ohio,  passing  lines  quickly  to  the  front,  the  whole  brigade 
charged  and  drove  the  enemy  at  a  full  run,  over  the  open 
grdund,  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  and  several  hun- 
dred yards  into  the  woods;  my  men  keeping  in  good 
order  and  delivering  their  fire  as  they  advanced.  The  rebels 
fled  hastily  to  cover,  leaving  the  ground  strewn  with  their 
dead  and  wounded. 

We  took  position  in  the  woods,  and  maintained  a  de- 
termined combat  for  more  than  an  hour.  At  this  time  I 
greatly  needed  my  battery,  which  had  been  taken  from  the 
brigade  early  in  the  day  by  command  of  Maj.  Gen.  Negley. 
Finding  a  force  moving  on  our  right  to  support  us,  and  the 
enemy  being  almost  silenced,  I  ordered  return  to  the  open 
grounds  south  of  the  woods;  this  movement  was  executed 
by  passing  lines  to  the  rear,  each  line  firing  as  it  retired. 
I  learned  from  prisoners  that  the  force  we  fought  and  put 
to  flight  this  day  was  the  division  of  the  rebel  Gen.  Brecken- 
ridge.  That  we  punished  them  severely  was  proved  by 
their  many  dead  and  wounded,  among  the  former  of  which 
were  several  field  officers,  and  among  the  latter  one  general 
officer  of  high  rank. 

I  thence  moved  to  a  position  on  the  road  near  Gen. 
Reynold's  centre,  and  there  remained  resting  my  men  and 
caring  for  my  wounded  for  an  hour  or  more.  Although  I 
had  not  reported  to  either  Generals  Reynolds  or  Baird,  as 
ordered  in  the  morning,  I  believe  I  rendered  them  very  sub- 
stantial assistance,  and  at  a  time  when  it  was  greatly 
needed. 

About  two  o'clock,  hearing  heavy  firing  to  the  right  of 
the  line,  and  learning  that  the  high  ground  in  that  direction 
was  being  held  by  Gen.  Brannan  with  a  part  of  our  division, 
I  moved  cautiously  through  the  woods,  and  at  2:30  P.  M. 
reported  my  brigade  to  him  for  duty.  We  were  immediately 
placed  in  the  front,  relieving  his  troops,  then  almost  ex- 
hausted. The  position  was  well  selected  and  capable  of 
being  defended  against  a  heavy  force,  the  line  being  a  crest 
of  a  hill,  for  the  possession  of  which  the  enemy  made  most 
desperate  and  renewed  attempts.  From  this  time  until  dark 


230  APPENDIX. 

we  were  hotly  engaged.  The  ammunition  failing  and  no 
supply  on  hand  except  a  small  quantity  furnished  by  Maj. 
Gen.  Gordon  Granger,  our  men  gathered  their  cartridges 
from  the  boxes  of  the  dead,  \vounded  and  prisoners,  and 
finally  fixed  bayonets,  determined  to  hold  the  position. 
Here  again  the  9th  Ohio  made  a  gallant  charge  down  the 
hill  into  the  midst  of  the  enemy,  scattering  them  like  chaff, 
and  then  returning  to  their  position  on  the  hill.  For  an 
hour  and  one-half  before  dark  the  attack  was  one  of  unex- 
ampled fury,  line  after  line  of  fresh  troops  being  hurled 
against  our  position  with  a  heroism  and  persistency  \vhich 
almost  dignified  their  cause.  At  length  night  ended  the 
struggle  and  the  enemy  having  suffered  a  terrible  loss,  re- 
tired from  our  immediate  front. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  day  the  position  directly  on 
our  right  had  been  held  by  Brig.  Gen.  Steedman,  but  which, 
early  in  the  evening  had  been  withdrawn  without  our 
knowledge,  thus  leaving  our  flank  exposed.  From  the  silence 
at  that  point,  Brig.  Gen.  Brannan  suspected  that  all  might 
not  be  right,  and  ordered  me  to  place  the  35th  Ohio  across 
that  flank  to  prevent  a  surprise.  This  had  scarcely  been 
done  before  a  rebel  force  appeared  in  the  gloom  directly  in 
their  front.  A  mounted  officer  rode  to  within  a  few  paces  of 
the  35th  and  asked  ' '  What  regiment  is  that  ?  "  To  this  some 
one  replied  "The  35th  Ohio."  The  officer  turned  suddenly 
and  attempted  to  run  away,  but  our  regiment  delivered  a 
volley  that  brought  horse  and  rider  to  the  ground,  and  put 
to  flight  the  force.  Prisoners  said  this  officer  was  the  rebel 
Gen.  Gregg. 

At  seven  (7)  o'clock  p.  M.  an  order  came  from  Maj.  Gen. 
Thomas  that  the  forces  under  Gen.  Brannan  should  move 
quietlv  to  Rossville.  This  was  carried  into  execution  under 
the  direction  of  Capt.  Cilley,  of  my  staff,  in  excellent  order. 

During  the  whole  of  the  two  days'  fighting  my  brigade 
kept  well  together,  at  all  times  obeying  orders  promptly  and 
moving  with  regularity  and  precision  as  if  on  drill.  They 
were  subjected  to  a  very  severe  test  on  the  19th,  when  being 
actively  engaged  with  the  enemy,  another  brigade  (not  of 
our  division)  ran  panic-stricken  through  and  over  us,  some 
of  the  officers  of  which  shouted  to  our  men  to  retreat,  or 
they  would  certainly  be  overwhelmed,  but  not  a  man  left 
the  ranks  and  the  approaching  enemy  found  before  him  a 
wall  of  steel.  Private  Savage,  of  Smith's  battery  struck 
one  of  the  retreating  officers  with  his  sponge  and  damned 
him  for  running  against  his  gun. 


APPENDIX.  231 

Our  loss  in  the  engagement  of  both  days  amounts  to  13 
officers  and  132  men  killed,  and  25  officers  and  581  men 
wounded  and  51  missing.  The  total  loss  being  802  men  and 
officers.  Doubtless  many  of  those  enumerated  among  the 
missing  will  be  found  either  wounded  or  killed.  There  was 
no  straggling  and  I  have  no  doubt  those  not  wounded  or 
killed  will  be  found  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  It 
is  a  noticeable  fact  that  the  2nd  Minnesota  had  not  a  single 
man  among  the  missing  or  a  straggler,  during  the  two  days' 
engagement. 

I  cannot  speak  too  highly  of  the  conduct  of  my  officers 
and  men;  without  exception  they  performed  all  that  was 
required,  much  more  than  could  have  been  expected. 

Where  3!!  did  so  well,  it  seems  almost  unjust  to  make 
distinctions ;  more  gallantry  and  indomitable  courage  was 
never  displayed  upon  the  field  of  battle. 

The  attention  of  the  General  commanding  the  division  is 
particularly  called  to  the  conduct  of  Col.  James  George, 
commanding  2nd  Minn,  vols.;  Col.  Gustavus  Kammerling, 
commanding  9th  Ohio  vols.;  Col.  N.  Gleason,  87th  Indiana 
vols.;  Lt.  Col.  H.  V.  N.  Boynton,  commanding  35th  Ohio 
vols.;  and  1st  Lieut.  F.G.  Smith,  commanding  battery  "I," 
4th  U.  S.  artillery.  These  officers  performed  every  duty  re- 
quired of  them  with  coolness  and  great  promptness,  and  by 
their  energy  and  gallantry  contributed  much  to  the  favor- 
able result  which  attended  every  collision  with  the  enemy. 

Such  officers  are  a  credit  to  the  service  and  our  country. 
Smith's  battery  rendered  great  help  in  the  action  of  the  19th 
inst.,  and  was  ably  and  gallantly  served,  Lieut.  Rodney 
being  conspicuous  in  the  management  of  his  section. 

Capt.  Church  of  the  1st  brigade,  with  one  section  of  his 
battery,  fought  well  and  is  entitled  to  credit  he  rendered  me 
on  the  19th. 

I  cannot  refrain  from  alluding  to  the  reckless  courage  and 
dash  of  Adjt.  Harris,  of  the  9th  Ohio  vols. 

My  staff  upon  the  field  consisted  of  Capt.  J.  R.  Beatty, 
2nd  Minnesota  vols.;  A.  A.  A.  G.,  Captains  P.  H.  Parshall, 
35th  Ohio,  and  B.  E.  Thoenssen,  9th  Ohio;  acting  aids, 
Capt.  C.  A.  Cilley,  2nd  Minn,  vols.,  Brig.  Topographical 
Engineer,  and  1st  Lt.  A.  E.  Alden,  2nd  Minn,  vols.,  Brig. 
Inspector.  For  efficiency,  personal  bravery  and  energy,  their 
conduct  deserves  more  than  praise.  They  exposed  them- 
selves at  all  times  watching  the  movements  of  the  enemy, 
carrying  orders,  rallying  the  men,  and  by  every  means  in 
their  power  contributing  to  the  success  of  the  brigade. 


232  APPENDIX. 

Capt.  Parshall  was  killed  early  in  the  aetion  of  the  first  da\-. 
He  was  a  brave,  noble  soldier,  an  upright  gentleman,  and 
carries  with  him  to  the  grave  the  love  and  regret  of  many 
friends. 

Capt.  Thoenssen  was  missing  the  evening  of  the  second 
day,  and  I  believe  was  captured.  Captains  Beatty  and 
Cilley  had  each  two  horses  shot  under  them. 

There  are  many  names  particularly  commended  for  cour- 
age and  good  behaviour,  for  which  I  respectfully  refer  to  the 
reports  of  the  regiments  and  the  battery. 

We  have  lost  many  gallant  officers  and  men,  a  list  of 
whom  is  herewith  furnished  you. 

In  the  charge  made  by  the  9th  Ohio  on  the  19th  which 
recaptured  the  battery  of  the  regular  brigade,  their  loss  in 
killed  and  wounded  was  over  fifty. 

I  am,  Captain,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Official  copy:  (Signed)     F.  VANDERYEER, 

JAMES  W.  WOOD.  Col.  com'd'g  3rd  brigade. 

1st  Lt.  and  Adjutant,  2d  Minnesota  vols. 


[No.  20.] 

COLONEL    JAMES     GEORGE    RECOMMENDED    FOR 
PROMOTION. 

( Official  Files,  Adjutant  General's  Office,  State  of  Minnesota.} 

HEADQUARTERS  3o  BRIGADE,  3D  DIVISION,  14TH  A.  C. 

CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  Oct.  9th,  1863. 
To  the  President  of  the  United  States  : 

SIR:  —  I  respectfully  recommend  to  your  favorable  con- 
sideration the  name  of  Col.  James  George,  commanding 
2nd  Minnesota  Volunteers,  for  a  commission  as  Brigadier 
General  of  Volunteers. 

Col.  George  is  the  senior  Colonel  in  the  service  from  his 
State,   and   has  by  his  conduct -in  the  late  battles  proved 
that  he  is  worthy  of  promotion.     His  regiment  is  remark- 
able for  its  steadiness,  reliability  and   efficiency  in   action, 
which  is  attributable  to  his  own'coolness  and  intrepidity. 
Very  respectful!}-,  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)        F.  VAX  DERYEER, 

Col.  Com'd'g  Brigade. 


APPENDIX.  233 

( Endorsements. ) 

HEADQUARTERS  3D  DIVISION,  14TH  A.  C.,  D.  C. 

CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  Oct.  9, 1863. 

I  cordially  endorse  the  recommendation  of  Col.  Van 
Derveer  in  this  case.  Col.  George's  conduct  in  command  of 
his  regiment  came  under  my  personal  observation  in  the 
battles  of  the  19th  and  20th  September,  at  "Chattanooga," 
in  which  he  displayed  great  bravery  and  coolness,  and  kept 
his  regiment  in  admirable  order  during  the  fight  of  both 
days. 

(Signed)  J.  M.  BRANNAN, 

Brig.  Gen.  Com'd'g  Division. 

HEADQUARTERS  14TH  ARMY  CORPS. 

CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  Oct.  10, 1863. 
Col.  James  George  has  commanded  the  2nd  Minnesota 
Volunteers  for  more  than  eighteen  months,  this  regiment 
has  always  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  in  the  service, 
and  has  always  been  commanded  by  him  with  ability, 
shows  that  he  is  worthy  of  promotion.  I  therefore  cor- 
dially unite  in  the  above  recommendation. 

(Signed)       GEO.  H.  THOMAS, 

Maj.  Gen.  U.  S.  V. 
HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND, 

Oct.  12,  1863. 

Col.  George  deserves  the  promotion  asked,  and  I  hope 
he  will  receive  it. 

(Signed)        W.  S.  ROSECRANS, 

Maj.  Genl. 

[No.  21.] 

(See  regimental  report  of  Mission  Ridge  in  chapter  ix  of 
narrative.) 

BATTLE  OF  MISSION  RIDGE. 

List  of  the  killed  and  wounded,  Second  Regiment,  Minne- 
sota Volunteers. 
(Official  Files,  Adjutant  General's  Office,  State  of  Minnesota.} 

COMPANY  "A." 

1st  Lieut.  Levi  Ober Wounded  slightly. 

Corpl.  A.J.  Bolsinger 

Private  Chas  B.  Rouse severely. 

Richard  Rice slightly. 

"         Adam  Mann " 


234 


APPENDIX. 


COMPANY  "B." 

Sergt.  John  Westerman Killed. 

"      Benjamin  P.  Talbot Wounded  mortally,  since  died. 

COMPANY  "  C." 

Private  Rincis  DeGrave Wounded  mortally,  since  died. 

"         Samuel  S.  Kline "  severely. 

Riley  Barnhaus "  slightly. 

COMPANY  "D." 

1st  Lieut.  Samuel  G.  Trimble.. Killed. 

Corpl.  John  S.  Mullen Wounded  severely. 

Private  Joseph  E.  LeBlond 

Jesse  M.  Williams "  slightly. 

Alexander  Landrie " 

COMPANY  "  E." 

2nd  Lieut.  Thos.  G.  Scott Wounded  slightly. 

Sergt.  Holder  Jacobus 

"     .Thomas  Harney 

Corpl.  N.  C.  Rukkee "  severeh'. 

"       Thomas  Fowble '  slightly. 

O.  P.  Renne 

Private  J.  L.  Henningson 

Ole  Hendrickson 

COMPANY  "H." 

Private  Samuel  Loudon Killed. 

2nd  Lieut.  Thos.  G.  Quayle Wounded  severely. 

Private  James  Pelkey "          mortally,  since  died. 

William  Gleason "  severely. 

Isaac  Sherman "  slightly. 

COMPANY  "i." 

Corpl.  J.  Ira  Tillotson Wounded  severely. 

Private  Stephen  W.  Miller "  slightly. 

Henry  White 

Ethan  A.  Hitchcock.... 

COMPANY  "K." 

Corpl.  Henry  F.  Koch Killed. 

Private  George  F.  Lamphear..      " 

1st  Sergt.  A.  H.  Reed Wounded  severely. 

Sergt.  T.  H.  Pendergast "  slightly. 

Private  Philetus  S.  Barnett....        "  severely. 

Wm.  B.  C.  Evans 

Christian  Kasmier ''  " 


APPENDIX.  235 

RECAPITULATION. 

Officers  killed 1  Officers  wounded 3 

Enlisted  men  killed 4  Enlisted  men  wounded 31 

Total  killed 5      Total  wounded 34 

Total  killed  and  wounded ...39 

Total  No.  of  officers  and  men  engaged 185 

J.  W.  BISHOP, 

Lt.  Col.  Com'd'g. 

Paul  Caviezel,  Sergt.  Company  "F,"  wounded  Oct.  5, 
died  Oct.  22,  '63. 

Peter  Peterson,  private  Company  "  E,"  wounded  Oct. 
12,  died  Oct.  13,  '63. 


[No.  22.] 

BATTLE  OF  MISSION  RIDGE. 

Supplementary  report  by  Lt.  Col.  J.  W.  Bishop. 

( Official  Files,  Adjutant  Generals  Office,  State  of  Minnesota.} 

HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  REGIMENT  MINN.  VOLS. 

CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  Dec.  10,  1863. 

CAPT.  JOHN  R.   BEATTY,  A.  A.  A.  G.  2nd  Brig.,  3rd  Div., 
14th  A.  C.: 

CAPTAIN:  —  For  the  purpose  of  placing  on  record  the 
names  of  the  officers  and  men  of  my  command  who  by 
gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  under  fire,  during  the 
assault  on  Mission  Ridge  on  the  25th  ult.,  have  entitled 
themselves  to  special  mention,  I  respectfully  submit  the 
following  report  as  supplementary  to  the  general  report 
already  on  file  in  your  office. 

There  were  present  and  engaged  on  that  occasion  one 
hundred  and  seventy  enlisted  men  of  the  regiment  and  the 
following  named  officers,  every  one  of  whom  is  entitled  to 
creditable  mention. 

Adjutant James  W.  Wood. 

Assistant  Surgeon Wm.  Brown. 

Captains C.  S.  Uline, 

"        J.  C.  Donahower, 

"         John  Moulton, 

"  ...Levi  Ober, 


236  APPENDIX. 

1st  Lieutenants Tenbroeck  Stout, 

"  H.  K.  Couse,com'd'g  his  Co., 

S.G.Trimble, 

W.W.  Wilson,  com'd'g  his  Co., 

L.  A.  Holmes,  com'd'g  his  Co. 

2d  Lieutenants T.  G.  Scott, 

"  John  C.  [ones, 

Eclw.  L.' Kenny, 

Thos.  G.  Quayle. 

To  Capt.  C.  S.  Uline,  the  senior  of  his  grade  in  the 
regiment,  was  assigned  the  command  of  the  two  companies 
deploved  to  cover  the  formation  and  advance  of  the 
brigade  in  taking  position  for  the  assault;  this  duty  was 
skilfully  discharged,  and  in  the  furious  assault  and  in  the 
melee  on  the  ridge  he  especially  distinguished  himself  by  his 
gallant  example  and  by  his  coolness  and  promptitude  in 
directing  the  enthusiasm  of  those  who  followed  him. 

1st  Lieutenant  Samuel  G.  Trimble,  a  gallant  and  faithful 
officer,  .was  shot  dead  in  the  extreme  front  of  the  fight  on 
the  ridge.  Beloved  and  respected  by  his  comrades  in  life, 
his  death  in  the  very  moment  of  victory  cast  a  cloud  over 
our  thanksgiving  for  the  triumph  for  which  he  gave  his  life. 

2nd  Lieut.  Thomas  G.  Quayle  fell  at  the  head  of  his  men 
in  the  melee  on  the  ridge,  severely  wounded  in  the  right 
knee. 

Color  Sergeant  Holder  Jacobus  of  Company  "E" 
crossed  lances  with  a  rebel  color  sergeant  over  a  Napoleon 
gun  on  the  ridge,  and  for  a  moment  the  two  disputed  its 
possession.  Only  for  a  moment,  however,  and  the  gun  with 
its  mate  was  ours.  Sergeant  Jacobus  was  soon  afterward 
wounded,  and  all  of  his  guard  save  one  were  either  killed 
or  wounded. 

1st  Sergeant  Alex.  H.  Reed  commanded  his  company 
("K")  during  the  engagement,  behaving  with  marked 
coolness  and  courage.  He  was  severely  wounded  near  the 
close  of  the  fight  on  the  ridge. 

1st  Sergeant  George  W.  Shuman,  of  Compan\-  "I,"  dis- 
tinguished himself  by  gallant  conduct  during  the  engage- 
ment, especially  by  taking  the  colors  of  the  regiment  from 
Corporal  Mullen  who  had  fallen  wounded,  and  keeping 
them  aloft  and  in  front  through  the  hottest  of  the  fight. 

Sergeant  Lafayette  Hadley  of  Company  "  B,"  Thos. 
Harney  of  Company  "E,"  and  A.  B.  White  of  Compamr 
"K,"  are  all  entitled  to  special  notice  for  gallantry,  as  are 
also  privates  Cox,  Marsh  and  McNeal  and  many  otherS) 


APPENDIX.  237 

whose  gallant  deeds,  though  telling  in  the  fight,  were  not 
especially  observed  and  reported. 

I  am.  Captain,  very  respectfully, 

Your  most  obedient'servant, 
(Signed )  j.  w.  BISHOP,  Lt.  Col., 

Com'd'g  2nd  Minn.'  Vols. 

[No.  23.] 

BATTLE  OF  MISSION  RIDGE. 

Report  of  Col.  F.  Van  Derveer,  commanding  Brigade. 
( Official  Files,  Adjutant  General's  Office,  State  of  Minnesota.) 
HEADQUARTERS  2o  BRIGADE,  3o  DIVISION,  14th  A.  C. 

CHATTANOOGA,  TENN. 
CAPT.  A.  C.  McCLURG,  A.  A.  A.  Gen'l,  etc.: 

CAPTAIN  :  —  I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  part  taken  by 
the  2d  Brigade  in  the  late  engagements  in  front  of  Chat- 
tanooga. 

My  command  consisted  of  the  9th  Ohio  Vols.,  Col.  G. 
Kammerling;  the  75th  Indiana,  Col.  M.  S.  Robinson ;  the 
87th  Indiana,  Col.  Newell  Gleason;  the  105th  Ohio  Lt 
Col.  W.  B.  Tolles;  101st  Indiana,  Lt.  Col.  Thos.  Doan;  2d 
Minnesota,  Lt.  Col.  J.  W.  Bishop:  and  the  35th  Ohio,  Lt. 
Col.  H.  V.  N.  Boynton;  numbering  in  all  102  commissioned 
officers  and  1,577  enlisted  men. 

Having  been  supplied  with  one  hundred  rounds  of 
ammunition  to  the  man,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  23d  of 
November  I  moved  to  a  position  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
in  tront  of  Fort  Phelps  with  m\-  brigade  formed  in  two 
lines,  the  left  resting  upon  the  Moore  road  and  the  right 
near  General  Turchin's  Brigade.  Here  we  remained  in 
line  with  a  strong  picket  in  front  until  8  o'clock  A.  M. ;  on 
the  25th,  when  in  pursuance  to  orders  from  the  General 
commanding  the  division,  I  deplo3'ed  one  regiment  (35th 
Ohio)  along  my  front  and  advanced  it  near  without 
opposition — the  enemy's  pickets  having  been  withdrawn 
about  daybreak  that  morning,  and  several  small  parties 
left  for  observation  retiring  in  haste  on  our  approach. 
Afterwards  this  regiment  was  ordered  to  join  the  brigade, 
when  the  division  was  moved  to  the  left  to  and  beyond 
Calico  Creek,  crossing  it  near  its  mouth.  Passing  but  a 


238  APPENDIX. 

short  distance  from  this  creek  an  order  came  to  counter- 
march, and  we  returned  and  took  position  about  half  a 
mile  north  of  Bald  Hill,  facing,  and  twelve  hundred  yards 
distant  from  Missionary  Ridge. 

At  this  point  I  formed  my  brigade  in  two  lines :  The  first 
composed  of  the  87th  Indiana  on  the  right;  the  101st  In- 
diana on  the  left,  and  the  35th  Ohio  in  the  centre.  The 
second  line  was  formed  by  the  75th  Indiana,  and  105th 
and  9th  Ohio  regiments.  The  2nd  Minnesota  was  placed 
in  front  of  the  brigade,  with  two  companies  under  Capt. 
Uline,  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  the  residue  of  the  regi- 
ment behind  them  as  a  reserve. 

I  ordered  my  skirmishers  to  advance  to  the  edge  of  the 
woods,  examine  the  position  of  the  enemy  and  report  their 
apparent  strength  in  and  about  the  rifle  pits  at  the  foot  of 
the  ridge. 

After  remaining  in  this  place  for  an  hour,  I  was 
ordered  to  move  forward  and  take  the  rifle  pits;  this  was 
about  4  o'clock  p.  M. 

I  sent  word  to  Lt.  Col.  Bishop  to  move  at  once  with  his 
skirmishers  and  reserve,  and  pushed  up  the  brigade  to  keep 
within  supporting  distance.  The  rifle  pits  in  our  front 
appeared  to  be  occupied  by  two  battalions  of  the  enemy, 
two  stands  of  colors  being  visible  upon  their  works.  The 
skirmishers  advanced  gallantly  into  the  open  field,  and 
under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  artillery  on  the  ridge 
and  musketry  from  the  lower  works,  dashed  forward  at  a 
double-quick  without  firing  a  shot.  As  they  approached 
within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  the  enemy,  great 
uneasiness  was  apparent  among  the  men  in  the  rifle  pits, 
and  by  the  time  our  skirmishers  were  at  a  distance  of  one 
hundred  yards,  they  were  retreating  precipitately  up  the 
ridge  to  their  rear.  Lt.  Col.  Bishop  immediately  got  his 
command  under  cover  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  within  five 
minutes  of  this  time  my  first  line,  having  passed  the  open 
space  under  a  very  heavy,  direct  and  enfilading  fire  from 
the  enem}*'s  batteries  on  the  ridge,  were  also  under  cover  of 
the  same  works.  In  the  meantime  my  second  line  was 
brought  forward  into  the  open  ground  and  the  men  ordered 
to  lie  down. 

Fifteen  minutes  after  the  rifle  pits  were  taken  the  General 
commanding  the  division  ordered  a  charge  upon  the  crest 
of  the  ridge.  My  brigade  moved  at  once  with  cheers  and  a 
hearty  good  will,  the  2nd  Minnesota  occupying  a  position 


APPENDIX.  239 

in  the  first  line.  The  precipitous  ascent,  the  enemy's  sharp- 
shooters in  front  and  the  terrific  enfilading  artillery  fire 
upon  each  flank,  were  forgotten  in  their  eager  haste  to 
storm  the  heights.  My  second  line  came  forward  at  a  run, 
and  after  a  few  moment's  rest  at  the  foot  of  the  ridge, 
followed  closely  the  advance.  In  fifteen  minutes  more  our 
colors  were  upon  the  summit,  and  in  twenty  minutes  the 
rebels  had  been  driven  out  of  their  works  on  the  crest,  and 
we  occupied  the  ground  in  front  of  the  brigade. 

As  my  men  sprang  over  the  works,  the  enemy's  cannon- 
iers  were  caught  in  the  act  of  loading,  and  were  bayonetted 
or  driven  off  before  they  could  fire  their  pieces.  Five  guns 
were  found  here  in  position  and  captured  by  the  brigade, 
two  (2)  by  the  2nd  Minnesota  and  three  (3)  by  the  35th 
Ohio.  The  larger  part  of  the  enemy  retired  along  the  ridge 
towards  the  left,  vigorously  pursued  and  driven  near  half  a 
mile. 

For  thirty  minutes  a  very  determined  resistance  was 
made  by  the  enemy.  Many  of  the  troops  of  my  command 
having  in  the  charge  up  the  ridge  lost  their  regimental 
organization,  were  in  some  disorder  for  a  short  time,  but  all 
pressed  towards  the  enemy.  The  9th  Ohio  and  75th  In- 
diana came  up  in  good  order  and  were  placed  in  line  per- 
pendicular to  the  ridge  and  fronting  the  rebels.  Darkness 
coming  on,  firing  ceased  on  both  sides,  and  my  brigade 
bivouacked  on  the  crest  of  Missionary  Ridge. 

After  the  action  one  other  piece  of  artillery  abandoned 
by  the  enemy  was  found  by  the  75th  Indiana  and  taken 
charge  of. 

The  guns  that  were  captured  by  my  command  were  left 
where  found  while  our  men  pursued  the  enemy  along  the 
ridge  towards  Tunnel  Hill.  While  they  were  thus  absent 
the  pieces  were  hauled  off  to  our  rear  by  men  said  to  belong 
to  Brig.  Gen.  Wood's  division,  which  was  upon  our  right. 
I  saw  these  guns  being  taken  towards  the  ground  occupied 
by  that  division,  and  upon  inquiry  I  was  informed  that 
they  were  being  taken  to  a  position  where  they  could  be 
used  against  the  enemy.  My  brigade  at  the  same  time 
captured  one  caisson  with  six  horses  attached,  and  a  limber 
with  one  pair  of  horses;  these  two  were  taken  to  the  rear 
with  the  guns. 

No  other  troops  were  near  this  battery  when  taken,— 
the  enemy  were  driven  from  it  by  my  own  men  and  we  thus 
lost  possession  whilst  gallantly  engaging  the  retreating 
rebel  force.  The  next  day  I  moved  with  the  rest  of  the 


240  APPENDIX. 

division  to  McAffee's  Church  and  the  succeeding  to  Ring- 
gold.  We  were  not,  however,  actively  engaged ;  and  on  the 
29th  marched  back  to  our  camp  at  Chattanooga. 

My  loss  upon  the  25th  was  2  officers  killed  and  13 
wounded  ;  20  enlisted  men  killed  and  126  wounded, 

In  this  action  my  brigade  fully  sustained  the  reputation 
it  had  won  at  Chickamauga.  None  flinched  from  their 
duty. 

I  particularly  commend  the  conduct  of  Col.  Kammerling, 
9th  Ohio,  Col.  Robinson,  75th  Indiana,  Col.  Gleason,  87th 
Indiana,  Lt.  Col.  Doan,  101st  Indiana,  Lt.  Col.  Bishop, 
2nd  Minnesota,  and  Lt.  Col.  Boynton,  35th  Ohio.  These 
officers  discharged  their  duties  coolly  and  ably.  Lt.  Col. 
Boynton  was  severely  wounded  early  in  this  engagement, 
when  the  command  of  his  regiment  devolved  upon  Maj. 
Budd,  who  is  entitled  to  much  praise  for  the  energy  and 
skill  he  exhibited  in  leading  his  men  up  the  ridge. 

Especial  credit  is  due  Lt.  Col.  Bishop  for  the  manage- 
ment of  his  regiment  when  skirmishing  in  front  of  the 
brigade,  and  the  gallant  manner  in  which  his  command  car- 
ried the  rifle  pits  at  the  foot  of  the  ridge. 

There  were  many  line  officers  and  enlisted  men  who 
deserve  commendation  for  their  gallantry  ;  for  their  names 
I  respectfully  refer  you  to  the  reports  of  regimental  com- 
manders. 

The  members  of  my  staff  with  me  on  the  field  were 
Capt.  J.  R.  Beatty,  A.  \.  A.  Gen'l,  Capt.  C.  A.  Cilley,  Brig. 
Inspector,  Capt.  W.  R.  Tuttle,  Brig.  Engineer,  1st  Lieut.  S. 
Fortner,  Provost  Marshall,  1st.  Lt.  S.  D.  Parsons,  A.  A. 
Quartermaster,  and  1st  Lt.  C.  B.  Williams,  A.  D.  C.  They 
rendered  me  great  service,  and  entitled  themselves  to  praise 
for  their  gallant  conduct. 
I  am,  Captain, 

Very  respectfully,  &c., 
(Signed)  F.  VAN  DERVEER, 

Col.  35th  O.  V.  I., 

Com'd'g  2nd  Brigade. 


APPENDIX.  241 

[No.  24.] 

PROMOTIONS  RECOMMENDED. 

HEADQUARTERS  2o  BRIGADE.  3o  DIVISION,  14th  A.  C. 

VININGS  STATION,  GA.,  July  14th,  1864. 

BRIG.  GEN.  OSCAR  MALMROS,  Adjt. Gen. State  of  Minnesota: 

GENERAL:— I  have  the  honor  to  recommend  the  following 

promotions  in   the   2nd    Regiment    Minnesota    Volunteers 

now  under  my  command  and  forming  part  of  the  brigade, 

I.  Lt.  Col.  J.  W.  Bishop  to  be  Colonel. 

II.  Major  Calvin  S.  Uline  to  be  Lt.  Colonel. 

III.  Capt.  Clinton  A.  Cilley  to  be  Major. 

The  regiment  now  having  received  two  detachments  of 
recruits,  numbers  six  hundred  and  ninety-five  (695)  men 
aggregate,  which,  with  two  hundred  recruits,  which  I  am 
informed  are  now  on  the  way  to  join  it,  will  entitle  the 
officers  so  promoted  to  be  mustered  accordingly. 

I  take  this  opportunity  to  state  that  the  2nd  Minnesota 
Veteran  Volunteer  Infantry  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  very 
best  organizations  in  the  service,  and  that  the  above 
named  officers  are  especially  deserving  of  promotion  for 
their  efficiency  and  strict  attention  to  duty.  The  good  of 
the  serviee  and  justice  to  these  officers  require  that  the 
regiment  be  filled  to  the  minimum,  in  order  that  a  full  quota 
of  field  officers  may  be  mustered. 
I  am,  very  respectfully, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

N.  GLEASON, 
Col.  Com'd'g  2d  Brig.,  3d  Div.,  14th  A.  C. 

( Endorsements.  I 

HEADQUARTERS  3o,  DIVISION,  14th  A.  C. 

July  14th,  1864. 

The  within  recommendations  for  promotion  in  the  2nd 
Minn.  Vols.  are  fully  concurred  in,  and  speedy  action  in  the 
several  cases  urged.  For  nearly  a  year  these  officers  have 
served  in  my  commands,  and  I  know  them  to  be  competent 
and  in  everv  way  worthy  of  promotion. 

Respectfully  forwarded, 

A.  BAIRD, 
Brig.  Gen.  Com'd'g  Division. 

16 


242 


APPENDIX. 


HEADQUARTERS  14th  A.  C. 

July  14th,  1864. 

Respectful^  forwarded.  The  propriety  of  these  promo- 
tions is  unquestionable,  and  they  are  earnestly  recom- 
mended. 

JOHN  M.  PALMER, 

Maj.  Gen.  Conrd'g  14th  A.  C. 


HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND. 

July  15th,  1864. 

Respectfully  forwarded  to  his  excellency  the  Governor  of 
Minnesota,  recommending  that  the  promotion  be  made  as 
requested  of  Lt.  Col.  Bishop,  Major  Uline  and  Capt.  Cilley. 
GEO.  H.  THOMAS,  Maj.  Gen.  Com'd'g, 

Dept.  of  the  Cumberland. 


[No.  25.] 


ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN. 


(  Official  Files,  Adjutant  General's  Office,  State  of  Minnesota. ) 

List  of  casualties  in  the  Second  Regiment  Minnesota 
Volunteer  Infantry  during  the  three  months  ending  Aug- 
6,  1864: 

Name.  Rank  and  Co.  Date. 

John  C.Jones 2d  Lieut          B     June  18, 1864  Killed. 

Peter  G.  Wheeler Sergt.Maj.N.C.S. 

Spencer  La vicou nt . . Private 
Nicholas  Roppert . . .  .Corporal 
Charles  F.  Meyer. ...Captain 

Samuel  A.  Field Private 

Joseph  Orcutt Corporal 

David J.  BumgarnerPrivate 

Roswell  Ingalls 

Nelson  Shelafoo 

Isaac  Sherman 

Geo.  Hetherington.. 

Henry  Clinton 

Ira  Holliday , 

Francis  Waldron 

James  Whiting 

Squire  Hoff. 


.C.S.  "  22, 

" 

F   "  22, 

" 

G   "  18, 

" 

G  M 
D  Ju 
C 

ay  14, 
ne  1, 
5, 

Wounded. 
W'dandc'd. 

A 

14, 

Wounded. 

K 
H 

18, 
18, 

H 

18, 

H 

18, 

I 

18, 

I 

18, 

B 

18, 

B 

18, 

F 

18, 

Name. 


APPENDIX. 


Rank  and  Co. 


243 


Wm.  Bingham Private 

Martin  V.  Barber.... 

Geo.  Rutherford Sergt. 

Thomas  Rutherford      " 

Nicholas  Sons Corporal 

Geo.  Ains worth Sergt. 

Wm.  Madden Corporal 

James  Thornton Private 

Frank  Harris 

Chas.  F.  Heyward.. 

John  E.Colburn 

Lewis  Horst 

Thaddeus  O'Kibben 
Joseph  Burger 

Station — near  Atlanta,  Ga. 
Date— Aug.  26th,  1864. 

(Signed)  J.  W.  BISHOP, 

Lt.  Col.  Com'd'g  2nd  Minn. 

Charles  Jung,  private  Co.  G,  Sept.  1,  wounded  (Jones- 
boro). 

George  Adams,  private  Co.  C,  Sept.  1,  wounded,  ( Jones- 
boro). 

W.J.Johnson,  private  Co.  C,  Sept.  1,  wounded,  (Jones- 
boro). 


o.           Date. 

C    June  18,1864Wounded 

K 
F 

19, 
19, 

Mortally. 
Wounded. 

D 

20, 

E 

20, 

F 

22, 

F 

22, 

F 

22, 

F 

22, 

F 

22, 

A 

22, 

E 

26, 

E    Mav20, 

H    Julv     9, 

• 

[No.  26.] 

Complimentary  Letter  from  Brig.  Gen.  A.  Baird,  Com'd'g 
Division,  to  Gov.  Miller. 

(Certified  copy  in  possession  of  J.  W.  B.) 

HEADQUARTERS  3v  DIVISION,  14TH  A.  C. 

SAVANNAH,  GA.,  January  6, 1865. 
His  EXCELLENCY,  S.  MILLER,  Governor  of  Minnesota: 

SIR, — In  consequence  of  a  letter  addressed  by  you  to 
Maj.  Gen.  Thomas,  commanding  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, in  which  you  promise  to  fill  up  the  2nd  Reg.  Minn. 
Vols.  from  the  supplementary  draft  to  be  made  in  your 
state  in  November  past,  and  ask  that  an  officer  be  sent  to 
receive  the  men,  I  have  detailed  Major  Uline  for  that  duty, 
with  orders  to  report  to  you  at  St.  Paul. 


244  APPENDIX. 

I  trust  that  the  condition  of  affairs  may  be  such  as  to 
enable  you  to  carry  out  the  design  which  you  expressed  in 
your  letter,  and  that  Mai.  Uline  may  soon  return  with  the 
number  of  men  required  to  fill  up  his  ranks. 

This  regiment  has  been  under  my  command  for  more 
than  a  year,  and  has  won  for  itself,  and  for  the  soldiers  of 
your  state,  a  high  reputation.  It  is  one  of  the  very  best 
regiments  in  any  of  our  armies,  and  I  am  sure  that  your 
men  now  entering  the  service  cannot  do  more  for  the  honor 
of  their  state,  or  serve  with  greater  profit  to  themselves, 
than  by  becoming  attached  to  it. 

The  three  officers  holding  your  commissions  for  the 
highest  positions  in  the  regiment  are  all  men  of  remarkable 
merit,  yet  they  are  still  serving  in  subordinate  grades  for 
want  of  the  number  of  men  required  to  muster  them.  They 
are  Lt.  Col.  Bishop,  Maj.  Uline  and  Capt.  Moulton,  and 
all  of  them  have  earned  their  promotion  many  times  since 
they  have  been  under  my  command. 

I  am,  sir,  most  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

A.  BAIRD, 
Brig.  Gen.  Com'd'g  Div. 


[No.  27.] 

SAVANNAH  TO  GOLDSBORO. 

Report  of  Casualties,  &c.,  to  March  23d,  1865. 
(  Official  Files,  Adjutant  General's  Office,  State  of  Minnesota. ) 

HEADQUARTERS  2i)  MINNESOTA  VOLUNTEERS, 

GOLDSBORO,  N.  C.,  March  23,  1865. 
COL.  OSCAR  MALMROS,  Adjt.  Gen'l,  State  of  Minnesota: 

COLONEL, — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  2d  Minnesota 
Vol.  Inf.  at  this  place  on  the  23d  inst.  Having  just  received 
our  back  mail  for  sixty  days .  we  are  overwhelmed  with 
business,  and  a  formal  or  detailed  account  now  is  out  of 
the  question. 

Our  monthly  returns  for  Januarj',  February  and  March 
will  be  made  and  forwarded  as  soon  as  we  can  procure  the 
blanks. 

Our  casualty  list  is  hereto  appended,  and  the  following 
items  may  interest  those  who  are  interested  in  the  regiment. 


APPENDIX.  245 

The  number  of  miles  marched  from  Savannah,  Ga.,  Jan- 
uary 20th,  to  Goldsboro,  March  23d,  not  including  forag- 
ing or  work  on  wagon  roads,  or  in  the  destruction  of 
railroads,  was  four  hundred  and  eighty.  Much  of  it  was 
done  in  bad  weather  and  on  bad  roads/and  not  a  little  of 
it  by  night. 

The  number  of  serviceable  horses  and  mules  captured 
and  turned  in  by  the  regiment  was  thirty. 

During  the  campaign  we  drew  from  the  trains  one  third 
rations  of  hard  bread,  coffee  and  sugar;  all  other  supplies 
were  foraged  from  the  country  along  the  line  of  march. 
Our  aggregate  number  present  when  we  marched  from 
Savannah  on  the  20th  of  January  was  526.  Decrease  dur- 
ing the  campaign  of  63  days  was: 

Men  sent  to  general  field  hospital 11 

Missing,  supposed  to  be  captured 5 

Total  decrease  being  about  three  per  cent. 
Aggregate  present  on  arriving  at  Goldsboro,  March  23, 
510. 

When  I  remember  that  about  one-half  of  the  men  of  the 
regiment  are  recruits  of  but  a  few  months'  service,  and  that 
the  campaign  has  been  one  of  the  severest  on  record,  the 
very  small  percentage  of  loss  from  the  effective  force  is 
more  than  satisfactory  to  me. 

I  am  equally  grateful  to  the  recruits  (they  may  well  drop 
that  name  now)  for  their  patient  and  heroic  endurance  of 
privations  and  hardships  to  which  they  were  little  accus- 
tomed, and  to  the  veterans  who  have  so  uniformly  given  a 
soldierly  example  to  those  of  less  experience  in  the  rough 
ways  of  war. 

We  hope  now  to  have  a  few  days  rest  to  obtain  clothing 
and  other  much  needed  supplies,  and  having  seven  months' 
pay  due  us,  a  paymaster  would  find  himself  welcome  here, 
too. 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

J.  W.  BISHOP,  Lt.  Col. 
Com'd'g  2d  Minn.  Vol.  Inf 'y. 


246  APPENDIX. 

CASUALTY  REPORT. 

DIED. 

Owen  Lewis,  Corporal Co.  B... Feb. 25, '65,  of  disease. 

WOUNDED. 

"William  S.  Lyman,  private Co.  B...In  action,   March  20. 

Christian  Sanders,  Sergt Co.  G...In  action,   March  20. 

MISSING,  SUPPOSED  TO  BE  CAPTURED. 

Isaac  A.  Peterson,  private Co.  C... March  2d. 

Mars  Oleson,  private Co.  C... March  23d. 

Sylvanus  Stone,  private Co.  C... March  3d. 

Ferdinand  Birck,  private Co.  F... February  12. 

Thos.  H.  Garretson,  private. ..Co.  F... February  12. 

J.  W.  BISHOP,  Lt.  Col. 
Com'd'g  2d  Minn.  Vol.  Inf 'y. 

[No.  28.] 

PROMOTION  ANNOUNCED. 

HEADQUARTERS  3o  Drv.,  14th  A.  C. 

June  13th,  1865. 
LT.  COL.  C.  S.  ULINE,  Com'd'g  2d  Reg.  Minn.  Vols. : 

COLONEL, — I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  I  have 
this  day  received  from  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  War,  a 
letter  of  appointment  as  "Brigadier  General  of  Volunteers 
by  Brevet."  (Commission  dated  April  9,  1865). 

As  I  have  never  had  permanently  any  other  command 
than  that  of  the  regiment  of  which  I  have  been  for  nearly 
four  years  a  member,  I  desire  to  say  through  you  that  I 
attribute  this  complimentary  promotion  entirely  to  the 
gallant  and  soldierly  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  of 
that  regiment,  and  that  I  tender  to  them  my  sincere  thank? 
for  the  honor  they  have  won  for  themselves  and  for  me. 
I  am,  very  respectfully, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

J.  W.  BISHOP,  Col.  2d  Minn.  Vols. 

Brevt.  Brig.  Gen'l  U.  S.  V. 


APPENDIX.  247 

[No.  29.] 

PROMOTION  RECOMMENDED. 

HEADQUARTERS  14th  A.  C. 
SAVANNAH,  GA.,  January  12, 1865. 
Adjutant  General  U.  S.  A. : 

SIR, — I  have  the  honor  to  apply  for  the  promotion  by 
Brevet  of  the  following  named  officers  who  have  served 
with  distinction  in  the  campaign  against  Atlanta  and 
Savannah : 

******** 

Lt.  Col.  J.  W.  Bishop,  2d  Minn.  Vol.  Inf'y. 
These  officers  have  not  only  commanded  their  troops 
with  uniform  gallantry,  but  by  their  constant  devotion  to 
duty  and  attention  to  all  the  details  and  necessities  of  their 
commands,  have  brought  them  to  a  state  of  efficiency  which 
entitles  them  to  some  recognition  of  their  services. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant,  &c., 

JEF.  C.  DAVIS, 
Brevt.  Maj.  Gen.  Com'd'g. 

HEADQUARTERS  LEFT  WING,  ARMY  OF  GEORGIA. 

SAVANNAH,  GA.,  Jan'y  12,  '65. 
Respectfully  forwarded,  approved. 

H.  W.  SLOCUM, 

Maj.  Gen.  Com'd'g. 

SECOND  RECOMMENDATION. 

HEADQUARTERS  14TH  A.  C. 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  May  29,  1865. 

BRIG.  GEN.  L.  THOMAS,  Adjt.  Gen.    U.  S.    Army,    Wash- 
ington, D.  C. : 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  on  the  12th  of  January 
last  I  recommended  Lt.  Col.  Bishop,  of  the  2d  Minn  Vet  _ 
Vols  to  the  Department  for  promotion  to  the  grade  of 
Brigadier  General  by  Brevet.  Since  that  time  this  officer 
has  been  commissioned  by  the  Governor  of  his  state, 
Colonel  of  his  regiment,  and  as  such  mustered.  I  desire 


248  APPENDIX. 

respectfully  to  again  ask  the  attention  of  the  Department 
to  the  merits  and  claims  of  Col.  Bishop  and  to  renew  the 
recommendation. 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 

JEF.  C.  DAVIS, 
Brvt.  Maj.  Gen.  Com'd'g. 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  GEORGIA. 
Near  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  May  30,  1865. 
Respectfully   forwarded   to  the  Adjutant  General  of  the 
Army,  approved. 

H.  W.  SLOCUM, 

Maj.  Gen'l  Com'd'g. 


[No.  30.] 

Regiment   Reported    Ready  for    Discharge   by   Gen.    J.   W. 
Bishop,  Commanding  Brigade. 

(Original  document  in  possession  of  J.  W.  B. ) 

HEADQUARTERS  IST  BRIG.,  3n  Div.,  14-TH  ARMY  CORPS. 

LOUISVILLE,  KY.,  July  8th,  1865. 

BREV'T  COL.  A.  C.  McCLURG,  A.  A.  G.  and  Chief  of  Staff, 
14th  A.  C. : 

COLONEL, — Lt.  Col.  C.  S.  Uline,  commanding  2d  Regt. 
Minn.  Vet.  Vol.  Inf  'y,  reports  that  regiment  ready,  and  to 
be  mustered  for  discharge  tomorrow — the  9th. 

I  have  therefore  the  honor  to  request  that  I  may  be 
ordered  to  assume  command  of  and  to  report  it  to  chief 
mustering  officer  at  Fort  Snelling,  Minn.,  for  discharge  and 
final  payment. 

In  making  this  application,  permit  me  to  say  that  as  the 
time  draws  near  when  we  are  to  leave  the  comrades  we 
have  so  long  served  with,  there  are  few,  if  any,  who  do  not 
find  that  the  joy  and  pride  that  we  feel  in  the  knowledge 
that  our  redeemed  country  no  longer  needs  our  service  in 
the  field,  is  mingled  with  a  sadness  that  always  attends 
the  breaking  up  of  long  wonted  associations. 

Identified  with  the  fortunes  of  the  14th  Corps  from  its 
organization,  and  in  it  the  only  representative  of  the  State 
that  sent  us  to  the  field,  it  has  been  equally  our  care  and 
our  pride  as  a  regiment,  that  Minnesota  should  never 


APPENDIX.  249 

blush  for  the  14th  Corps,  and  that  the  14th  Corps  should 
never  droop  its  laurels  with  shame  at  the  name  of  Min- 
nesota. 

With  the  most  grateful  remembrance  of  the  soldierly 
courtesy  with  which  we  have  been  uniformly  treated  by 
our  comrades  in  arms  from  other  states  of  the  same,  our 
own,  country,  I  desire  especially  to  acknowledge  the  kindly 
interest  in  the  regiment  which  has  been  so  often  manifested 
by  the  Generals  commanding  the  Division  and  the  Corps. 
I  am,  Colonel,  very  respectfully, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

J.  W.  BISHOP, 
Col.  2d  Minn.  Vols., 
and  Brv't.  Brig.  Gen.  Com'd'g  Brigade. 

[No.  31.] 

Farewell  Letter  from  Headquarters  of  14th  Army  Corps, 
Gen.  Jeff.  C.  Davis,  Com'd'g. 

(Official  document  in  possession  of  J.  W.  B.) 

HEADQUARTERS  14TH  ARMY  CORPS, 
LOUISVILLE,  KY.,  July  9,  1865. 

GENERAL, — I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  to  you  a  copy  of 
the  order  relieving  your  regiment  from  the  Corps  and 
directing  you  to  report  it  at  Fort  Snelling. 

Until  the  time  of  separation  came,  none  knew  how 
strong  were  the  attachments  formed  during  the  months 
and  years  of  association  in  hardships  and  dangers  as 
soldiers.  His  relations  to  the  officers  and  men  of  the  2d 
Minnesota  have  always  been  a  matter  of  pride  and  satis- 
faction to  the  Corps  Commander,  and  from  no  regiment  in 
the  corps  will  he  part  with  a  deeper  regret.  He  thanks  one 
and  all  of  the  members  of  the  organization  for  the  con- 
stancy and  devotion  which  have  always  marked  their 
attention  to  the  duties  and  requirements  of  soldiers  in 
camp  and  on  the  march  as  well  as  on  the  field  of  action. 

He  congratulates  you  that  your  labors,  hardships  and 
dangers  are  over,  and  that  with  a  country  restored  to  peace 
and  prosperity — partly  through  your  exertions  and  sacri- 
fices, you  return  once  more  to  your  homes. 


250  APPENDIX. 

None  have  a  better  record  for  discipline  and  drill  and  all 
the  minutiae  of  soldierly  conduct  as  well  as  uniform  gal- 
lantry on  every  field  of  action  in  which  they  have  been 
engaged  than  the  2d  Minnesota,  and  your  state  owes  you 
thanks  for  the  uniformly  faithful  manner  in  which  you 
have  performed  your  share  of  the  task  allotted  to  the 
soldiers  of  the  Union. 

Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant,  &c., 

A.  C.  McCLURG,  Brvt.  Col., 

A.  A.  G.  and  Chief  of  Staff. 

Brvt.  Brig.  Gen.  J.  W.  BISHOP, 
Com'd'g  2d  Minn.  Vols. 


[No.  32.] 

Final  Order  to  Report  at  Fort  Snelling  for  Muster-Out. 
(Original  document  in  possession  of  J.  W.  B.) 

HEADQUARTERS  14TH  ARMY  CORPS, 
LOUISVILLE,  KY.,  July  9,  1865. 

Special  Orders,  \ 
No.  5.          | 

(Extract.) 

II.  The  2d  Minnesota  V.  V.  Infantry  having  been  mus- 
tered on  muster-out  rolls,  in  accordance  with  existing 
orders,  Brvt.  Brig.  Genl.  J.  W.  Bishop.  Colonel  of  the 
regiment,  is  hereby  at  his  own  request  relieved  from 
command  of  the  1st  Brigade,  3d  Division,  14th  A.  C.,  and 
will  proceed  forthwith  with  his  regiment  to  Fort  Snelling, 
Minn.,  and  there  report  it  in  accordance  with  provisions  of 
General  Orders,  No.  94,  (C.  S.)  A.  G.  O.,  to  the  Chief  Mus- 
tering Officer  of  the  State  of  Minnesota  (or  his  assistant  at 
that  point)  for  final  discharge. 

By  command  of  Brevet  Major  JEFF.  C.  DAVIS. 

A.  C.  McCLURG, 
Asst.  Adjt.  Genl.  and  Chief  of  Staff. 

Brvt.  Brig.  Genl.  J.  W.  BISHOP, 

Com'd'g  1st  Brig.,  3d  Div.,  14th  A.  C. 


APPENDIX.  251 

[No.  33.] 

ROSTER  OF  COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

In  Service  when  the  Regiment  Departed  for   the   South, 
October,  1861. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

Colonel,  Horatio  P.  Van  Cleve;  Lieutenant  Colonel, 
James  George;  Major,  Alexander  Wilkin;  Adjutant,  Daniel 
Heaney;  Quartermaster,  W.  S.  Grow;  Quartermaster  Ser- 
geant, S.  D.  Parsons;  Sergeant  Major,  C.  A.  Cilley;  Sur- 
geon, R.  H.  Bingham;  Assistant  Surgeon,  M.  C.  Tolman; 
Chaplain,  T.  R.  Cressey. 

Company  A — Captain,  Judson  W.  Bishop;  1st  Lieut., 
Charles  Haven;  2d  Lieut.,  Charles  H.  Barnes. 

Company  B — Captain  William  Markham;  1st  Lieut., 
Daniel  Heaney;  2d  Lieut.,  Abram  Harkins. 

Company  C — Captain,  Peter  Mantor;  1st  Lieut.,  Henry 
C.  Simpson;  2d  Lieut.,  David  B.  Bailey. 

Company  D — Captain,  Horace  H.  Western;  1st  Lieut., 
Moses  C.  Tuttle;  2d  Lieut.,  Samuel  P.  Jennison. 

Company  E — Captain,  Asgrim  K.  Skaro;  1st  Lieut., 
E.  St.  Julian  Cox;  2d  Lieut.,  Jeremiah  C.  Donahower. 

Company  F— Captain,  John  B.  Davis;  1st  Lieut.,  David 
B.  Loomis;  2d  Lieut.,  John  S.  Livingston. 

Company  G— Captain,  Andrew  R.  Kiefer;  1st  Lieut., 
Jacob  Mainzer;  2d  Lieut.,  Fred  A.  Brandt. 

Company  H— Captain,  Nelson  W.  Dickinson:  1st  Lieut., 
John  R.  Beatty ;  2d  Lieut.,  Jerome  Dame. 

Company  I— Captain,  John  Foote;  1st  Lieut.,  William 
S.  Grow;  2d  Lieut.,  Calvin  S.  Uline. 

Company  K— Captain,  J.  J.  Noah;  1st  Lieut.,  Wm.  W. 
Woodbury;  2d  Lieut.,  Ephraim  A.  Otis. 

[No.  34.] 

ROSTER  OF  COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 
At  Re-Enlistment,  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  January,  1864. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

Colonel,  James  George,  absent  on  sick  leave;  Lieut.  Col., 
J.  W.  Bishop,  Com'd'g;  Major,  John  B.  Davis;  Adjutant,  J. 
W.  Wood;  Quartermaster,  S.  D.  Parsons;  Surgeon,  M.  C. 
Tolman ;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Wm.  Brown. 


252  APPENDIX. 

Company  A — Captain,  Levi  Ober;  1st  Lieut.,  Ed.  Kenny. 

Company  B — Captain,  Abram  Harkins ;  1st  Lieut.,  W. 
W.  Wilson  ;  2d  Lieut.,  John  C.  Jones. 

Company  C— Captain,  C.  A.  Cilley;  1st  Lieut.,  H.  K. 
Couse;  2d  Lieut.,  Matthias  Thoeny. 

Company  D — Captain,  John  Moulton  ;  1st  Lieut.,  Hiram 
Lobdell. 

Company  E — Captain,  J.  C.  Donahower;  1st  Lieut., 
Augustus  E.  Alden;  2d  Lieut.,  Thomas  G.  Scott. 

Company  F— Captain,  David  B.  Loomis;  1st  Lieut., 
John  S.  Livingston;  2d  Lieut.,  Edward  Wait. 

Company  G — Captain,  C.  F.  Meyer;  1st  Lieut.,  Henning 
V.  Rumohr;  2d  Lieut.,  Charles  Rampe. 

Company  H — Captain,  John  R.  Beatty  ;  1st  Lieut.,  L.  N. 
Holmes;  2d  Lieut.,  Thomas  G.  Quayle. 

Company  I— Captain,  C.  S.  Uline;  1st  Lieut.,  Tenbroeck 
Stout. 

Company  K — Captain,  W.  W.  Woodbury;  2d  Lieut.,  D. 
S.  Coverdale. 


[No.  35.] 

FINAL  ROSTER  OF  COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 
At  Muster-out,  July,  1865. 

Colonel,  Judson  W.  Bishop  (Brvt.  Brigadier  General); 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  C.  S.  Uline;  Major,  John  Moulton; 
Adjutant,  F.  S.  Hoffstott;  Surgeon, Wm.  Brown;  Chaplain, 
Levi  Gleason ;  Quartermaster,  J.  L.  Kenny;  Sergeant 
Major,  W.  C.  Wynkoop;  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  W.  C. 
Garrett;  Commissary  Sergeant,  Samuel  Bowler;  Hospital 
Steward,  Robert  Bailey;  Musician,  R.  G.  Rhodes  (leader  of 
the  band). 

Company  A — Capt.  Ed.  L.  Kenny;  1st  Lieut.,  A.  Kalder; 
2d  Lieut.,  A.  McCorkle. 

Company  B— Captain.  J.  W..Wood;  1st  Lieut.,  J.  L. 
Gaskill;  2d "Lieut.,  F.  Kelsey. 

Company  C — Captain  M.  Thoeny;  1st  Lieut.,  W.  H. 
Mills;  2d  Lieut.,  J.  P.Jackson. 

Company  D— Captain,  G.  W.  Shuman;  1st  Lieut.,  J.  T. 
McCoy;  2d  Lieut.,  J.  W.  Stuart. 

Company  E— Captain,  T.  G.  Scott;  1st  Lieut.,  B.  F. 
Sylvester;  2d  Lieut.,  T.  D.  Fowblc. 


APPENDIX.  253 

Company  F— Captain,  J.  S.  Livingston ;  1st  Lieut  C 
H.  Fnend;  2d  Lieut.,  F.  R.  Harris. 

Company  G— Captain,  H.  V.  Rumohr;  1st  Lieut  A  G 
Essen;  2d  Lieut.,  F.  Lambrecht. 

Company  H— Captain,  L.N.  Holmes;  1st  Lieut  E  K 
Wasser;  2d  Lieut.,  Daniel  Pagan. 

Company  I— Captain.  T.  Stout;  1st  Lieut.,  E.  V  Dicker  • 
2d  Lieut.,  H.  H.  Hills. 

Company  K— Captain,  D.  S.  Coverdale;  1st  Lieut.  A 
H.  Reed;  2d  Lieut.,  A.  B.  White. 

(Only  three  of  these  officers  appear  in  the  list  of  original 
commissioned  officers.) 


[No.  36.] 

MEMORANDA. 

Date  of  mustering  the  first  two  companies..... June  26,  1861 

Date  of  organization  as  a  regiment July  22,  1861 

Date  of  re-muster  in  as  veterans Dec.  29,  1863 

Date  of  final  payment  and  discharge July  20,  1865 

Number  of  men  mustered  into  the  regiment 1,780 

Number  of  men  commissioned  as  officers 91 

Number  of  men  wounded  in  action 276 

Of  whom  were  killed  or  mortally  wounded 68 

Number  of  men  died  of  diseases 167 

Number  of  men  discharged  for  disability 277 

Number  transferred  or  promoted  out  of  the  regiment ..       76 

Number  reported  as  deserted 61 

Number  of  officers  resigned 40 

Number  of  men  discharged  at  the  end  of  three  years' 

time,  or  at  end  of  war  and  away  from  regiment...  353 
Number  of  men  present  at  final  discharge  of  regiment  699 
Number  of  men  on  the  rolls  at  the  final  muster  out 821 

It  appears  that  of  the  whole  number  of  men  mustered 
into  the  regiment  from  first  to  last,  about  15  per  cent  were 
wounded  in  battle,  and  about  one  fourth  of  these  were 
killed  or  mortally  wounded. 

Nearly  9  per  cent  of  the  whole  number  died  in  the 
service  of  disease,  and  15  per  cent  were  discharged  for  dis- 
ability; 4%  per  cent  were  transferred  or  promoted  out  of 
the  regiment,  3V6  per  cent  deserted  the  service,  and  2%  per 
cent  (officers)  resigned  for  various  reasons  during  the  four 
years'  service.  Twenty  per  cent  of  the  whole  number  were 


254  APPENDIX. 

discharged  at  the  expiration  of  the  original  years'  enlist- 
ment, and  at  the  close  of  the  war  but  away  from  the  regi- 
ment, and  40  per  cent  of  the  whole  number  were  present  in 
the  regiment  at  its  final  muster  out. 

Of  the  thirty-seven  commissioned  officers  who  were  in 
the  regiment  at  the  end  of  its  service,  only  three  were  com- 
missioned officers  at  the  beginning ;  all  the  others  (except 
the  surgeon)  had  been  promoted  from  the  ranks. 

While  the  regiment  had  various  periods  of  encampment 
or  post  duty,  it  had  considerable  exercise  on  foot.  In  1862, 
'63  and  '64  it  marched  b\"  the  record  5,153  miles;  an 
average  of  4%  miles  a  day,  including  Sundays,  for  the 
whole  time.  No  record  was  kept  for  1861  or  1865.  It  is 
believed,  however,  that  the  average  daily  marching  in  those 
years  would  exceed  that  for  the  years  given. 


[No.  37.] 

RE-UNION  OF  1887. 

Letter  from  Colonel  H.  V.  N.  Boynton. 

WASHINGTON,  Aug.  11,  1887. 

MY  DEAR  GENERAL  BISHOP, — You  may  be  sure  I  was 
glad  to  receive  your  invitation  for  the  re-union  of  the 
Second  Minnesota — of  glorious  deeds  and  memories.  The 
historical  pamphlet  you  sent  me  was  one  of  the  most  wel- 
come documents  I  ever  received.  For,  aside  from  all  that 
pertained  to  your  own  regiment,  there  was  much  which 
was  common  to  all  the  comrades  in  the  brigade.  In  fact, 
it  is  impossible  to  separate  the  history  of  the  Second  Min- 
nesota, the  Thirty-fifth  Ohio,  the  Ninth  Ohio  and  the 
Eighty-seventh  Indiana.  I  am  sure  each  is  proud  of  the 
splendid  record  of  the  others.  No  doubt  it  has  often 
occurred  to  you,  as  it  has  to  me,  that  while  mam-  other 
brigades  did  all  that  could  be  done  on  many  fields,  it  hap- 
pened to  few  to  have  the  record  of  ours  in  one  respect.  We 
had  the  peculiar  good  fortune  to  be  never  obliged  either  by 
the  enemy  or  by  the  contingencies  of  movements  on  any 
field  to  give  a  foot  of  ground  in  the  presence  of  the  enenry. 
That  is  a  heritage  which  we  all  share.  It  would  give  me 
keen  pleasure  to  meet  you  again.  Give  an  old  comrade's 
love  to  the  living  veterans  of  your  regiment.  They  may 
not  remember  me,  but  I  have  vividly  and  proudly  in  mind 
their  splendid  bearing  at  Chicamauga  and  Mission  Ridge 


APPENDIX.  255 

and  other  fields  of  their  renown.  I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot 
attend  the  re-union;  if  it  were  possible,  I  would  go 
Believe  me,  dear  General,  with  a  thrill  of  the  old  times, 

Cordially  yours, 

H.  V.  BOYNTON, 
(Late  Lt.  Col.  com'd'g  35th  Ohio  Vols.) 

Telegram  from  Colonel  Ferdinand  VanDerveer. 

HAMILTON,  OHIO,  Sept.  15,  1887. 
To  Gen.  J.  W.  BISHOP: 

I  wish  I  could  meet  with  the  old  boys  of  the  Second 
Minnesota  today.  Their  soldierly  qualities  were  unsur- 
passed on  the  field  of  battle.  l"  remember  them  as  the 
regiment  without  a  straggler  at  Cbicamauga.  Convey  to 
them  not  only  my  profound  respect  but  say  in  addition 
that  my  heart  goes  out  to  them.  They  deserve  well  of  our 
country. 

Very  truly, 

F.  VANDERVEER, 
(Late  Col.  35th  Ohio  Vols..  com'd'g  Brigade.) 

Letter  from  General  A.  Baird.  ' 


HOTEL  CHATHAM,  PARIS,  Oct.  1st,  1887. 
Gen.J.  W.  BISHOP: 

MY  DEAR  GENERAL,— Your  kind  letter  of  Sept.  3d,  invit- 
ing me  to  attend  the  re-union  of  the  surviving  members  of 
the  Second  Minnesota  Regiment  on  Sept.  15th,  has  been 
forwarded  and  has  reached  me  here,  where  I  have  been^to 
attend  certain  military  maneuvers  of  French  troops.  It 
reached  my  hand  too  late  for  a  reply  to  be  read  at  the 
meeting,  which  I  regret  as  well  as  not  being  able  to  be 
there  myself. 

The  word  "surviving"  which  you  use  is  a  sad  one.  Most 
of  the  men  must  have  been  younger  than  I,  yet  I  survive, 
but  to  retire  from  active  service  next  year.  Every  man  of 
the  Second  Minnesota  Regiment  ought  to  feel  proud  that 
he  belonged  to  it.  I  have  known  your  regiment  well,  as 
you  know.  I  have  seen  the  soldiers  of  all  countries,  and  I 
can  truthfully  say  that  I  have  never  seen  men  that  I  would 


256  APPENDIX. 

more  willingly  trust  ir^self  with  in  an  hour  requiring  the 
highest  strain  on  manhood  and  braver}',  than  those  of  the 
Second  Minnesota. 

With  the  warmest  friendship  for  yourself  and  for  the 
regiment, 

Most  truly  yours, 

A.  BAIKD, 
(Late  Maj.  Gen.  com'd'g  Division.) 

Letter  from  General  W.  S.  Rosecrans. 

TREASURY  DEPARTMENT,  REGISTER'S  OFFICE. 

Sept.  6th,  1887. 
J.  W.  BISHOP,  ESQ.  : 

DEAR  COMRADE, — I  remember  the  Second  Minnesota 
very  well,  and  am  a  witness  to  their  gallantry,  patriotism 
and  courage.  I  have  good  reason  to  remember  it  grate- 
fully. 

Please  present  my  best  wishes  to  the  assembled  comrades 
and  tell  them  that,  if  duty  permitted,  I  should  enjoy  noth- 
ing better  than  to  be  at  the  re-union  in  St.  Paul  on  the  15th 
inst. 

Since  dictating  the  above,  the  pamphlet  "Official  Records" 
of  the  regiment  has  come  to  hand,  and  revives  many  lively 
memories  of  the  Second's  fighting  and  staying  qualities. 
My  warmest  good  wishes  to  each  comrade  of  that  regi- 
men I. 

Very  truly  yours, 

W.  S.  ROSECRANS. 
(Late  Maj.  Gen.  com'd'g  Army  of  the  Cumberland.) 


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